Nonlinear neurodynamics of N2 sleep EEG predict outcomes of anterior nucleus of the thalamus deep brain stimulation in epilepsy: A pilot study.

Non-responders exhibited significantly higher complexity in the δ and σ bands (q < 0.05), indicating impaired thalamocortical rhythmic fidelity and disrupted synchronization stability.

In contrast, responders demonstrated significantly higher α-band robust permutation entropy (q < 0.01), reflecting greater cortical functional flexibility and a richer dynamical repertoire.

SIGNIFICANCE: These findings demonstrate that preoperative N2 sleep electroencephalography complexity may serve as a non-invasive and interpretable biomarker for predicting anterior nucleus of the thalamus deep brain stimulation outcomes in drug-resistant epilepsy.