Researchers in Electrical and Computer Engineering create an early warning signal that predicts epileptic seizures

Researchers at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette have developed an artificial intelligence system that can predict epileptic seizures up to an hour before they occur.

Dr. Magdy Bayoumi and Dr. Hisham Daoud, researchers in the University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, led a team who developed the system.

The system will give people suffering from epilepsy warning that a seizure is imminent, enabling them to take medication – or alert a friend, relative or medical professional. It had an accuracy rate of 99.6 percent based on results of electroencephalogram, or EEG, tests that monitored brain signals of 22 patients at the Boston Children’s Hospital.

“Bringing this technology from a medical setting to everyday life would greatly improve quality of life for people who have epilepsy. There would be a medical benefit for them, and a significant psychological one as well,” said Bayoumi.