Bidirectional analysis of seizure patterns and menstrual cycle phases extracted from physiological signals

Abstract

Objective. This exploratory study investigates cyclical changes in physiological features across the menstrual cycle in women with epilepsy, focusing on their potential relationship with seizure occurrence. Approach. Nocturnal data during sleep were collected from two women with ovulatory cycles and compared with data from healthy controls, two non-ovulatory women, one postmenopausal woman, and two male patients. The aim was to characterize signal patterns across different reproductive states and to explore whether menstrual-related rhythms correspond to seizure timing. Circular statistics mapped signals onto an angular scale, allowing identification of biphasic patterns linked to ovulation,..