Do epileptic and non-epileptic seizures share a predictive odour?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Are epileptic and non-epileptic seizures associated by a common olfactory biomarker
IRAS ID
319826
Contact name
Alastair Ruffell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queens University, Belfast
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 1 months, 1 days
Research summary
Informed by our previous research project (zure, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349384914), the aim of the study is to investigate whether a common gaseous biomarker exists across epileptic seizures and non-epileptic seizures. The objective will be to record demonstrations of three key behavioural responses by 20 pet dogs with with no experience of seizures, to odours from both seizure types compared with their responses to control odours. Prior to this study commencing, ethical permission for recording the responses of a sample of 20 pet dogs to odours emerging from epileptic seizures, psychogenic seizures and controls will have been obtained from the Faculty of Health, Medical and Life Sciences. The following are the three behavioural responses to be recorded:
-Total eye contact with owner (TTEC)
-Total time remaining near owner, [within 2 metres] (TTNO)
-Total physical contact with owner by nudging, pawing, jumping up (TTPC)REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
24/NI/0004
Date of REC Opinion
5 Feb 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion