Sleep and epilepsy in neonates

The complex processes of cortical maturation are closely related to the regulation of sleep-wakefulness cycles. Sleep regulation in the context of neonatal seizures is frequently abnormal, and these alterations may be a result of the maladaptative plasticity of neuronal networks. Furthermore, in this situation altered connectivity might also be associated with other expressions of neurological dysfunction such as cognitive and behavioral problems. EEG background abnormalities and higher frequency of discharges are often associated with disrupted sleep organization. The outcome of newborns with seizures where sleep organization is undifferentiated seems to be more unfavorable.