Neurological effects
Regarding the potential neurological effects of IS, only
aspartame has been studied. There are two studies in
healthy adults [72, 73]. No effects of aspartame on the
measured parameters (reaction time, headaches, hunger,
sedation, electroencephalographic parameters) were observed.
The study undertaken in epileptic subjects [74]
showed no statistically significant difference between aspartame
and the placebo on the incidence of epileptic
seizures. The four available studies on migraine subjects
[75–78] show conflicting results. However, no conclusion
can be drawn due to their poor methodological quality
(no adjustment) and the subjective nature of the
measured effects (using non-validated self-questionnaires).
Regarding children, there are two studies, one in epileptic
children [79] and the other in hyperactive children [80],
showing no significant effects of aspartame.

Some studies with significant methodological limitations
suggested that aspartame consumption may be involved
in triggering epileptic seizures and migraines but
no conclusions can be drawn regarding the occurrence
of such a risk from the data as a whole.