Grey matter heterotopia: what EEG-fMRI can tell us about epileptogenicity of neuronal migration disorders

ILAE neuroimaging task force highlight: Subcortical laminar heterotopia

The ILAE Neuroimaging Task Force publishes educational case reports that highlight basic aspects of neuroimaging in epilepsy consistent with the ILAE's educational mission. Subcortical laminar heterotopia, also known as subcortical band heterotopia (SBH) or "double cortex," is an intriguing and rare congenital malformation of cortical development. SBH lesions are part of a continuum best designated as agyria-pachygyria-band-spectrum. The malformation is associated with epilepsy that is often refractory, as well as variable degrees of developmental delay. Moreover, in an increasing proportion of cases, a distinct molecular-genetic background can be found. Diagnosing SBH can be a major challenge for many reasons, including more subtle lesions, and "non-classic" or unusual MRI-appearances. By presenting an illustrative case, we address the challenges and needs of diagnosing and treating SBH patients in epilepsy, especially the value of high-resolution imaging and specialized MRI-protocols.

The analysis of 18 F-FDG PET/MRI, electroencephalography, and semiology in patients with gray matter heterotopia: A pilot study

OBJECTIVES

To describe ¹⁸ F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (¹⁸ F-FDG PET/MRI) along with semiology and electroencephalography (EEG) in patients with gray matter heterotopia (GMH); to evaluate the concordance between ¹⁸ F-FDG PET/MRI and clinical epileptogenic zone (EZ).

MATERIALS & METHODS

GMH (subcortical heterotopia [SCH] and periventricular nodular heterotopia [PNH]) patients with epilepsy who underwent ¹⁸ F-FDG PET/MRI were retrospectively enrolled. Two radiologists evaluated brain MRI, while two nuclear medicine specialists assessed the ¹⁸ F-FDG PET. The SUVmax values of visually hypometabolic cortical areas were compared to the contralateral cortex using a SUVmax threshold value of 10%; the SUVmax values of GMH lesions were compared with that of the right precentral gyrus. The cortex or GMH with hypometabolism on ¹⁸ F-FDG PET/MRI was considered representative of the EZ. The clinical EZ was identified using EEG and semiology.

RESULTS

Thirty patients (19 PNH; 11 SCH) with a mean age of 28.46 ± 9.52 years were enrolled. The heterotopic nodules were ametabolic in 3 patients (10%), hypometabolic in 16 (33.33%), isometabolic in 13 (26.66%), and hypermetabolic in 4 (10%). ¹⁸ F-FDG PET/MRI demonstrated hypometabolism in the cortex and GMH in 22/30 (73.33%) and 16/30 (53.33%). We could identify a clinical EZ in 18 patients, and 15 out of 18 (83.33%) had concordant ¹⁸ F-FDG PET/MRI findings.

CONCLUSION

Heterotopic nodules in GMH patients show different metabolic patterns on ¹⁸ F-FDG PET/MRI, with nearly three-quarters of the patients having cortical hypometabolism. ¹⁸ F-FDG PET/ MRI findings are mostly concordant with the clinical EZ.

Periventricular nodular heterotopia is coupled with the neocortex during resting and task states

Periventricular nodular heterotopia (PVNH) is a well-defined developmental disorder characterized by failed neuronal migration, which forms ectopic neuronal nodules along the ventricular walls. Previous studies mainly focus on clinical symptoms caused by the PVNH tissue, such as seizures. However, little is known about whether and how neurons in the PVNH tissue functionally communicate with neurons in the neocortex. To probe this, we applied magnetoencephalography (MEG) and stereo-electroencephalography (sEEG) recordings to patients with PVNH during resting and task states. By estimating frequency-resolved phase coupling strength of the source-reconstructed neural activities, we found that the PVNH tissue was spontaneously coupled with the neocortex in the α-β frequency range, which was consistent with the synchronization pattern within the neocortical network. Furthermore, the coupling strength between PVNH and sensory areas effectively modulated the local neural activity in sensory areas. In both MEG and sEEG visual experiments, the PVNH tissue exhibited visual-evoked responses, with a similar pattern and latency as the ipsilateral visual cortex. These findings demonstrate that PVNH is functionally integrated into cognition-related cortical circuits, suggesting a co-development perspective of ectopic neurons after their migration failure.

fMRI-Based Effective Connectivity in Surgical Remediable Epilepsies: A Pilot Study

Simultaneous EEG-fMRI can contribute to identify the epileptogenic zone (EZ) in focal epilepsies. However, fMRI maps related to Interictal Epileptiform Discharges (IED) commonly show multiple regions of signal change rather than focal ones. Dynamic causal modeling (DCM) can estimate effective connectivity, i.e. the causal effects exerted by one brain region over another, based on fMRI data. Here, we employed DCM on fMRI data in 10 focal epilepsy patients with multiple IED-related regions of BOLD signal change, to test whether this approach can help the localization process of EZ. For each subject, a family of competing deterministic, plausible DCM models were constructed using IED as autonomous input at each node, one at time. The DCM findings were compared to the presurgical evaluation results and classified as: "Concordant" if the node identified by DCM matches the presumed focus, "Discordant" if the node is distant from the presumed focus, or "Inconclusive" (no statistically significant result). Furthermore, patients who subsequently underwent intracranial EEG recordings or surgery were considered as having an independent validation of DCM results. The effective connectivity focus identified using DCM was Concordant in 7 patients, Discordant in two cases and Inconclusive in one. In four of the 6 patients operated, the DCM findings were validated. Notably, the two Discordant and Invalidated results were found in patients with poor surgical outcome. Our findings provide preliminary evidence to support the applicability of DCM on fMRI data to investigate the epileptic networks in focal epilepsy and, particularly, to identify the EZ in complex cases.

Treatment of Epilepsy Associated with Periventricular Nodular Heterotopia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Epilepsy associated with periventricular nodular heterotopia (PNH), a developmental malformation, is frequently drug-resistant and requires focal therapeutic intervention. Invasive EEG study is usually necessary to delineate the epileptogenic zone, but constructing an accurate hypothesis to define an appropriate electrode implantation scheme and the treatment is challenging. This article reviews recent studies that help understanding the epileptogenicity and potential therapeutic options in PNH.

RECENT FINDINGS

New noninvasive diagnostic and intracerebral EEG analytic tools demonstrated that cortical hyperexcitability and aberrant connectivity (between nodules and cortices and among nodules) are likely mechanisms causing epilepsy in most patients. The deeply seated PNH, if epileptogenic, are ideal target for stereotactic ablative techniques, which offer concomitant ablation of multiple regions with relatively satisfactory seizure outcome. Advance in diagnostic and analytic tools have enhanced our understanding of the complex epileptogenicity in PNH. Development in stereotactic ablative techniques now offers promising therapeutic options for these patients.

Internodular functional connectivity in heterotopia-related epilepsy

Objective

A vast network involving the nodules and overlying cortices is believed to be responsible for the epileptogenicity in gray matter heterotopia with multiple nodules, which often associated with difficult‐to‐treat epilepsy. We sought to determine if functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) could detect internodular functional connectivity (FC), and if this connectivity reflects an actual synchronized neuronal activity and partakes in epileptogenicity.

Methods

We studied 16 epilepsy patients with multiple heterotopic nodules; eight underwent subsequent intracerebral EEG. We examined the internodular FC using fMRI and its correspondence with internodular synchrony of intracerebral interictal activity. We then compared the spreading speed of ictal activity between connected and unconnected nodules; and the FC among possible combinations of nodule pairs in terms of their involvement at seizure onset.

Results

Seventy nodules were studied: 83% have significant connection to at least one other nodule. Among the 49 pairs studied with intracerebral EEG, (1) synchronized interictal activity is more prevalent in fMRI‐connected pairs (P < 0.05), (2) ictal activity spreads faster between connected pairs (P < 0.0001), and (3) stronger FC was observed between pairs in which both nodules were involved at seizure onset (P < 0.01).

Interpretation

fMRI could reliably and noninvasively detect the FC between heterotopic nodules. These functional connections correspond to the synchrony of interictal epileptic activity between the nodules and to the ability of nodules to generate synchronous seizure onsets or rapid seizure spread. These findings may help in understanding the complexity of the epileptogenic network in multiple heterotopic nodules and better targeting the likely epileptogenic nodules.

The Role of FDG-PET in Patients with Epilepsy Related to Periventricular Nodular Heterotopias: Diagnostic Features and Long-Term Outcome

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Periventricular nodular heterotopias (PNHs) are frequently associated with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can define the morphological features of PNHs, still there is a need to assess their metabolic activity in order to provide useful information on epileptogenicity and long-term outcome. To that end, we investigated the ability of ¹⁸ F-FDG PET to identify seizure onset zone in order to assess the metabolic activity of the ectopic neurons and to provide prognostic information on the postsurgical outcome.

METHODS

Sixteen patients (6 men and 10 women; ranging between 24 and 53 years of age) with PNHs-related DRE were evaluated. All patients underwent clinical evaluation, Stereo-electroencephalogram (SEEG), brain MRI, and ¹⁸ F-FDG brain PET/CT. PET images were superimposed on the patient-specific 3-dimensional-brain MRI. The metabolic activity of each nodule and of their cortex was visually and semiquantitatively assessed. The outcome after intervention was assessed in all patients using Engel classification.

RESULTS

Thirty-one heterotopic sites were identified. Twenty-one of 23 nodules with detectable electric activity on SEEG were identified by PET (91.3%), while 5 of 8 of nodules without electric activity showed no metabolism on PET (62.5%). Overall, the concordance between SEEG and FDG-PET was 26/31 (83.9%). Furthermore, cortical metabolic alterations were depicted, correlating with epileptogenic areas. A favorable postsurgical outcome was reported in 13 patients (81.3%). The presence of a hypometabolic nodule significantly correlated with a worse outcome after surgical therapy (P = .036).

CONCLUSIONS

In PNHs-related epilepsy, FDG-PET more accurately identifies epileptogenic foci, which aids surgical planning and in postoperative seizure control.

Transient Cognitive Impairment in Epilepsy

Impairments of the dialog between excitation and inhibition (E/I) is commonly associated to neuropsychiatric disorders like autism, bipolar disorders and epilepsy. Moderate levels of hyperexcitability can lead to mild alterations of the EEG and are often associated with cognitive deficits even in the absence of overt seizures. Indeed, various testing paradigms have shown degraded performances in presence of acute or chronic non-ictal epileptiform activity. Evidences from both animal models and the clinics suggest that anomalous activity can cause cognitive deficits by transiently disrupting cortical processing, independently from the underlying etiology of the disease. Here, we will review our understanding of the influence of an abnormal EEG activity on brain computation in the context of the available clinical data and in genetic or pharmacological animal models.

Spontaneous epileptiform activity in a rat model of bilateral subcortical band heterotopia

OBJECTIVE

Malformations of cortical development are common causes of intellectual disability and epilepsy, yet there is a crucial lack of relevant preclinical models associating seizures and cortical malformations. Here, we describe a novel rat model with bilateral subcortical band heterotopia (SBH) and examine whether this model develops spontaneous epileptic seizures.

METHODS

To generate bilateral SBH in rats, we combined RNAi-mediated knockdown of Dcx and in utero electroporation with a tripolar electrode configuration enabling simultaneous transfection of the two brain hemispheres. To determine whether bilateral SBH leads to epileptiform activity, rats of various ages were implanted for telemetric electrocorticographic recordings and histopathological examination was carried out at the end of the recording sessions.

RESULTS

By 2 months, rats with bilateral SBH showed nonconvulsive spontaneous seizures consisting of spike-and-wave discharges (SWDs) with dominant frequencies in the alpha and theta bands and secondarily in higher-frequency bands. SWDs occurred during both the dark and the light period, but were more frequent during quiet awake state than during sleep. Also, SWDs were more frequent and lasted longer at older ages. No sex differences were found. Although frequencies and durations of SWDs were found to be uncorrelated with the size of SBH, SWDs were initiated in some occasions from brain hemispheres comprising a larger SBH. Lastly, SWDs exhibited absence-like pharmacological properties, being temporarily alleviated by ethosuximide administration.

SIGNIFICANCE

This novel model of bilateral SBH with spontaneous epilepsy may potentially provide valuable new insights into causality between cortical malformations and seizures, and help translational research aiming at designing novel treatment strategies for epilepsy.

The impact of mapping interictal discharges using EEG-fMRI on the epilepsy presurgical clinical decision making process: A prospective study

PURPOSE

We set out to establish the clinical utility of EEG-correlated fMRI as part of the presurgical evaluation, by measuring prospectively its effects on the clinical decision.

METHODS

Patients with refractory extra-temporal focal epilepsy, referred for presurgical evaluation were recruited in a period of 18 months. The EEG-fMRI based localization was presented during a multi-disciplinary meeting after the team had defined the presumed RESULTS: Sixteen patients (six women), with a median age of 28 years, were recruited. Interpretable EEG-fMRI results were available in 13: interictal epileptic discharges (IEDs) were recorded in eleven patients and seizures were recorded in two patients. In three patients, no epileptic activity was captured during EEG-fMRI acquisition and in two of those an IED topographic map correlation was performed (between EEG recorded inside the scanner and long-term video EEG monitoring). EEG-fMRI results presentation had no impact on the initial clinical decision in three patients (23%) of the thirteen and resulted in a modification of the initial surgical plan in ten patients (77%) of the thirteen finally presented in MDT; in eight patients the impact was on the planned placement of invasive electrodes and in two patients the EEG-fMRI led to additional non-invasive tests before proceeding further with surgery.

CONCLUSION

The study is a prospective observational cohort study specifically designed to assess the impact of EEG-fMRI on the clinical decision making process, suggesting a significant influence of EEG-fMRI on epilepsy surgery planning.

Relationship Between Alpha Rhythm and the Default Mode Network: An EEG-fMRI Study

PURPOSE

Reports of the relationship between the default mode network (DMN) and alpha power are conflicting. Our goal was to assess this relationship by analyzing concurrently obtained EEG/functional MRI data using hypothesis-independent methods.

METHODS

We collected functional MRI and EEG data during eyes-closed rest in 20 participants aged 19 to 37 (10 females) and performed independent component analysis on the functional MRI data and a Hamming-windowed fast Fourier transform on the EEG data. We correlated functional MRI fluctuations in the DMN with alpha power.

RESULTS

Of the six independent components found to have significant relationships with alpha, four contained DMN-associated regions: One independent component was positively correlated with alpha power, whereas all others were negatively correlated. Furthermore, two independent components with opposite relationships with alpha had overlapping voxels in the medial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex, suggesting that subpopulations of neurons within these classic nodes within the DMN may have different relationships to alpha power.

CONCLUSIONS

Different parts of the DMN exhibit divergent relationships to alpha power. Our results highlight the relationship between DMN activity and alpha power, indicating that networks, such as the DMN, may have subcomponents that exhibit different behaviors.

The Sub-Regional Functional Organization of Neocortical Irritative Epileptic Networks in Pediatric Epilepsy

Between seizures, irritative network generates frequent brief synchronous activity, which manifests on the EEG as interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs). Recent insights into the mechanism of IEDs at the microscopic level have demonstrated a high variance in the recruitment of neuronal populations generating IEDs and a high variability in the trajectories through which IEDs propagate across the brain. These phenomena represent one of the major constraints for precise characterization of network organization and for the utilization of IEDs during presurgical evaluations. We have developed a new approach to dissect human neocortical irritative networks and quantify their properties. We have demonstrated that irritative network has modular nature and it is composed of multiple independent sub-regions, each with specific IED propagation trajectories and differing in the extent of IED activity generated. The global activity of the irritative network is determined by long-term and circadian fluctuations in sub-region spatiotemporal properties. Also, the most active sub-region co-localizes with the seizure onset zone in 12/14 cases. This study demonstrates that principles of recruitment variability and propagation are conserved at the macroscopic level and that they determine irritative network properties in humans. Functional stratification of the irritative network increases the diagnostic yield of intracranial investigations with the potential to improve the outcomes of surgical treatment of neocortical epilepsy.

Detecting sub-second changes in brain activation patterns during interictal epileptic spike using simultaneous EEG-fMRI

OBJECTIVE

Epileptic spikes are associated with rapidly changing brain activation involving the epileptic foci and other brain regions in the "epileptic network". We aim to resolve these activation changes using simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) recordings.

METHODS

Simultaneous EEG-fMRI recordings from 9 patients with epilepsy were used in the analysis. Our method employed the whole scalp EEG data to generate regressors for the analysis of fMRI data using the general linear model.

RESULTS

We were able to resolve, with milliseconds temporal resolution, changes in activation patterns involving suspected epileptic foci and other brain regions in the epileptic network during spike and slow wave. Using summary maps (called SSWAS maps) which show the activation frequency of voxels, we found that suspected epileptic foci tend to be significantly active during this interval. SSWAS maps also enabled the detection of the epileptic foci in 4 of 5 patients where the conventional event-timing-based analysis failed to identify.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrated the efficacy of the method and the potential application of SSWAS maps to identify epileptic foci.

SIGNIFICANCE

The method could help resolve activation changes during epileptic spike and could provide insights into the underlying pathophysiology of these changes.

Neuroimaging in Epilepsy

In recent years, the field of neuroimaging has undergone dramatic development. Specifically, of importance for clinicians and researchers managing patients with epilepsies, new methods of brain imaging in search of the seizure-producing abnormalities have been implemented, and older methods have undergone additional refinement. Methodology to predict seizure freedom and cognitive outcome has also rapidly progressed. In general, the image data processing methods are very different and more complicated than even a decade ago. In this review, we identify the recent developments in neuroimaging that are aimed at improved management of epilepsy patients. Advances in structural imaging, diffusion imaging, fMRI, structural and functional connectivity, hybrid imaging methods, quantitative neuroimaging, and machine-learning are discussed. We also briefly summarize the potential new developments that may shape the field of neuroimaging in the near future and may advance not only our understanding of epileptic networks as the source of treatment-resistant seizures but also better define the areas that need to be treated in order to provide the patients with better long-term outcomes.

Temporal lobe spikes: EEG-fMRI contributions to the "mesial vs. lateral" debate

OBJECTIVE

It has been reported that interictal epileptic discharges (IEDs) recorded in temporal regions on scalp EEG are unlikely to originate from mesial temporal structures. However, EEG-fMRI sometimes show mesial temporal activation. We hypothesized that BOLD activation in the temporal neocortex is weaker than in the mesial structures, reflecting the fact that propagated activity has less metabolic demand than the original discharge.

METHODS

Twelve patients with epilepsy who have BOLD response in mesial temporal structures were selected from our EEG-fMRI database. We searched the temporal lobe ipsilateral to IEDs and checked whether there is positive BOLD response in the neocortex.

RESULTS

All IED types showed a BOLD response in the temporal neocortex ipsilateral to the mesial temporal BOLD response. T-values were higher in mesial temporal structures than in neocortex in 13/16 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Hemodynamic changes were observed in the mesial temporal lobe at the time of IEDs recorded from the temporal region on the scalp. The finding of smaller BOLD changes in the ipsilateral neocortex is in agreement with our hypothesis.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our study indicates that scalp-recorded temporal lobe spikes are likely to result from mesial temporal spikes propagating neuronally to the neocortex.

Contributions of EEG-fMRI to Assessing the Epileptogenicity of Focal Cortical Dysplasia

Purpose: To examine the ability of the BOLD response to EEG spikes to assess the epileptogenicity of the lesion in patients with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD).

Method: Patients with focal epilepsy and FCD who underwent 3T EEG-fMRI from 2006 to 2010 were included. Diagnosis of FCD was based on neuroradiology (MRI+), or histopathology in MRI-negative cases (MRI−). Patients underwent 120 min EEG-fMRI recording session. Spikes similar to those recorded outside the scanner were marked in the filtered EEG. The lesion (in MRI+) or the removed cortex (in MRI−) was marked on the anatomical T1 sequence, blindly to the BOLD response, after reviewing the FLAIR images. For each BOLD response we assessed the concordance with the spike field and with the lesion in MRI+ or the removed cortex in MRI−. BOLD responses were considered “concordant” if the maximal t-value was inside the marking. Follow-up after resection was used as gold-standard.

Results: Twenty patients were included (13 MRI+, 7 MRI−), but in seven the EEG was not active or there were artifacts during acquisition. In all 13 studied patients, at least one BOLD response was concordant with the spike field; in 9/13 (69%) at least one BOLD response was concordant with the lesion: in 6/7 (86%) MRI+ and in 3/6 (50%) MRI− patients.

Conclusions: Our study shows a high level of concordance between FCD and BOLD response. This data could provide useful information especially for MRI negative patients. Moreover, it shows in almost all FCD patients, a metabolic involvement of remote cortical or subcortical structures, corroborating the concept of epileptic network.

Epileptiform activity in the mouse visual cortex interferes with cortical processing in connected areas

Epileptiform activity is associated with impairment of brain function even in absence of seizures, as demonstrated by failures in various testing paradigm in presence of hypersynchronous interictal spikes (ISs). Clinical evidence suggests that cognitive deficits might be directly caused by the anomalous activity rather than by its underlying etiology. Indeed, we seek to understand whether ISs interfere with neuronal processing in connected areas not directly participating in the hypersynchronous activity in an acute model of epilepsy. Here we cause focal ISs in the visual cortex of anesthetized mice and we determine that, even if ISs do not invade the opposite hemisphere, the local field potential is subtly disrupted with a modulation of firing probability imposed by the contralateral IS activity. Finally, we find that visual processing is altered depending on the temporal relationship between ISs and stimulus presentation. We conclude that focal ISs interact with normal cortical dynamics far from the epileptic focus, disrupting endogenous oscillatory rhythms and affecting information processing.

Lesional cerebellar epilepsy: a review of the evidence

Classical teaching in epileptology localizes the origins of focal seizures solely in the cerebral cortex, with only inhibitory effects attributed to subcortical structures. However, electrophysiological and neuroimaging studies over the last decades now provide evidence for an initiation of epileptic seizures within subcortical structures. Intrinsic epileptogenicity of hypothalamic hamartoma has already been established in recognition of subcortical epilepsy, whereas a seizure-generating impact of dysplastic cerebellar lesions remains to be clarified. Herein, we examine the supportive evidence and clinical presentation of cerebellar seizures and review therapy options.

Use of Network Analysis to Establish Neurosurgical Parameters in Gliomas and Epilepsy

Cutting-edge neuroimaging technologies can facilitate preoperative evaluation in various neurosurgical settings. Surgery for gliomas and epilepsy requires precise localization for resection due to the need to preserve (or perhaps improve) higher cognitive functions. Accordingly, a hodological approach should be taken that considers subcortical networks as well as cortical functions within various functional domains. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has the potential to provide new insights that are valuable for this approach. In this review, we describe recent developments in network analysis using resting state fMRI related to factors in glioma and epilepsy surgery: the identification of functionally dominant areas, evaluation of cognitive function by alteration of resting state networks (RSNs), glioma grading, and epileptic focus detection. One particular challenge that is close to realization is using fMRI for the identification of sensorimotor- and language-dominant areas during a task-free resting state. Various RSNs representative of the default mode network demonstrated at least some alterations in both patient groups, which correlated with behavioral changes including cognition, memory, and attention, and the development of psychosis. Still challenging is the detection of epileptic foci and propagation pathways when using only network analysis with resting state fMRI; however, a combined method with simultaneous electroencephalography has produced promising results. Consequently, network analysis is expected to continue to advance as neuroimaging technology improves in the next decade, and preoperative evaluation for neurosurgical parameters through these techniques should improve parallel with them.

Negative BOLD in default-mode structures measured with EEG-MREG is larger in temporal than extra-temporal epileptic spikes

Introduction: EEG-fMRI detects BOLD changes associated with epileptic interictal discharges (IED) and can identify epileptogenic networks in epilepsy patients. Besides positive BOLD changes, negative BOLD changes have sometimes been observed in the default-mode network, particularly using group analysis. A new fast fMRI sequence called MREG (Magnetic Resonance Encephalography) shows increased sensitivity to detect IED-related BOLD changes compared to the conventional EPI sequence, including frequent occurrence of negative BOLD responses in the DMN. The present study quantifies the concordance between the DMN and negative BOLD related to IEDs of temporal and extra-temporal origin.

Methods: Focal epilepsy patients underwent simultaneous EEG-MREG. Areas of overlap were calculated between DMN regions, defined as precuneus, posterior cingulate, bilateral inferior parietal and mesial prefrontal cortices according to a standardized atlas, and significant negative BOLD changes revealed by an event-related analysis based on the timings of IED seen on EEG. Correlation between IED number/lobe of origin and the overlap were calculated.

Results: 15 patients were analyzed, some showing IED over more than one location resulting in 30 different IED types. The average overlap between negative BOLD and DMN was significantly larger in temporal (23.7 ± 19.6 cm³) than extra-temporal IEDs (7.4 ± 5.1 cm³, p = 0.008). There was no significant correlation between the number of IEDs and the overlap between DMN structures and negative BOLD areas.

Discussion: MREG results in an increased sensitivity to detect negative BOLD responses related to focal IED in single patients, with responses often occurring in DMN regions. In patients with high overlap with the DMN, this suggests that epileptic IEDs may be associated with a brief decrease in attention and cognitive ability. Interestingly this observation was not dependent on the frequency of IED but more common in IED of temporal origin.

Causes and consequences of gray matter heterotopia

The objective of this article is to review the pathophysiological bases of gray matter heterotopia and to appreciate their involvement in brain cortical development and functional consequences, namely epilepsy. The development of the cerebral cortex results from complex sequential processes including cell proliferation, cell migration, cortical organization, and formation of neuronal networks. Disruption of these steps yields different types of cortical malformations including gray matter heterotopia, characterized by the ectopic position of neurons along the ventricular walls or in the deep white matter. Cortical malformations are major causes of epilepsy, being responsible for up to 40% of drug-resistant epilepsy, and the cognitive level of affected patients varies from normal to severely impaired. This review reports data from human patients and animal models highlighting the genetic causes for these disorders affecting not only neuronal migration but also the proliferation of cortical progenitors. Therefore, gray matter heterotopias should not be considered as solely due to an abnormal neuronal migration and classifying them as such may be too restrictive. The review will also summarize literature data indicating that besides ectopic neurons, neighbor cortical areas also play a consistent role in epileptogenesis, supporting the notion that plastic changes secondary to the initial malformation are instrumental in the pathophysiology of epilepsy in affected patients.

Sensitivity and Specificity of Interictal EEG-fMRI for Detecting the Ictal Onset Zone at Different Statistical Thresholds

There is currently a lack of knowledge about electroencephalography (EEG)-functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) specificity. Our aim was to define sensitivity and specificity of blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) responses to interictal epileptic spikes during EEG-fMRI for detecting the ictal onset zone (IOZ). We studied 21 refractory focal epilepsy patients who had a well-defined IOZ after a full presurgical evaluation and interictal spikes during EEG-fMRI. Areas of spike-related BOLD changes overlapping the IOZ in patients were considered as true positives; if no overlap was found, they were treated as false-negatives. Matched healthy case-controls had undergone similar EEG-fMRI in order to determine true-negative and false-positive fractions. The spike-related regressor of the patient was used in the design matrix of the healthy case-control. Suprathreshold BOLD changes in the brain of controls were considered as false positives, absence of these changes as true negatives. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for different statistical thresholds at the voxel level combined with different cluster size thresholds and represented in receiver operating characteristic (ROC)-curves. Additionally, we calculated the ROC-curves based on the cluster containing the maximal significant activation. We achieved a combination of 100% specificity and 62% sensitivity, using a Z-threshold in the interval 3.4–3.5 and cluster size threshold of 350 voxels. We could obtain higher sensitivity at the expense of specificity. Similar performance was found when using the cluster containing the maximal significant activation. Our data provide a guideline for different EEG-fMRI settings with their respective sensitivity and specificity for detecting the IOZ. The unique cluster containing the maximal significant BOLD activation was a sensitive and specific marker of the IOZ.

Does the region of epileptogenicity influence the pattern of change in cortical excitability?

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether cortical excitability measures on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) differed between groups of patients with different focal epilepsy syndromes.

METHODS

85 Patients with focal epilepsy syndromes divided into temporal and extra-temporal lobe epilepsy were studied. The cohorts were further divided into drug naïve-new onset, refractory and seizure free groups. Motor threshold (MT) and paired pulse TMS at short (2, 5, 10, 15 ms) and long (100-300 ms) interstimulus intervals (ISIs) were measured. Results were compared to those of 20 controls.

RESULTS

Cortical excitability was higher at 2 & 5 ms and 250, 300 ms ISIs (p<0.01) in focal epilepsy syndromes compared to controls however significant inter-hemispheric differences in MT and the same ISIs were only seen in the drug naïve state early at onset and were much more prominent in temporal lobe epilepsy.

CONCLUSION

Disturbances in cortical excitability are more confined to the affected hemisphere in temporal lobe epilepsy but only early at onset in the drug naïve state.

SIGNIFICANCE

Group TMS studies show that cortical excitability measures are different in temporal lobe epilepsy and can be distinguished from other focal epilepsies early at onset in the drug naïve state. Further studies are needed to determine whether these results can be applied clinically as the utility of TMS in distinguishing between epilepsy syndromes at an individual level remains to be determined.

Dampened hippocampal oscillations and enhanced spindle activity in an asymptomatic model of developmental cortical malformations

Developmental cortical malformations comprise a large spectrum of histopathological brain abnormalities and syndromes. Their genetic, developmental and clinical complexity suggests they should be better understood in terms of the complementary action of independently timed perturbations (i.e., the multiple-hit hypothesis). However, understanding the underlying biological processes remains puzzling. Here we induced developmental cortical malformations in offspring, after intraventricular injection of methylazoxymethanol (MAM) in utero in mice. We combined extensive histological and electrophysiological studies to characterize the model. We found that MAM injections at E14 and E15 induced a range of cortical and hippocampal malformations resembling histological alterations of specific genetic mutations and transplacental mitotoxic agent injections. However, in contrast to most of these models, intraventricularly MAM-injected mice remained asymptomatic and showed no clear epilepsy-related phenotype as tested in long-term chronic recordings and with pharmacological manipulations. Instead, they exhibited a non-specific reduction of hippocampal-related brain oscillations (mostly in CA1); including theta, gamma and HFOs; and enhanced thalamocortical spindle activity during non-REM sleep. These data suggest that developmental cortical malformations do not necessarily correlate with epileptiform activity. We propose that the intraventricular in utero MAM approach exhibiting a range of rhythmopathies is a suitable model for multiple-hit studies of associated neurological disorders.

The role of functional neuroimaging in pre-surgical epilepsy evaluation

The prevalence of epilepsy is about 1% and one-third of cases do not respond to medical treatment. In an eligible subset of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, surgical resection of the epileptogenic zone is the only treatment that can possibly cure the disease. Non-invasive techniques provide information for the localization of the epileptic focus in the majority of cases, whereas in others invasive procedures are required. In the last years, non-invasive neuroimaging techniques, such as simultaneous recording of functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalogram (EEG-fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), electric and magnetic source imaging (MSI, ESI), spectroscopy (MRS), have proved their usefulness in defining the epileptic focus. The combination of these functional techniques can yield complementary information and their concordance is crucial for guiding clinical decision, namely the planning of invasive EEG recordings or respective surgery. The aim of this review is to present these non-invasive neuroimaging techniques, their potential combination, and their role in the pre-surgical evaluation of patients with pharmaco-resistant epilepsy.

The role of functional neuroimaging in pre-surgical epilepsy evaluation

The prevalence of epilepsy is about 1% and one-third of cases do not respond to medical treatment. In an eligible subset of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, surgical resection of the epileptogenic zone is the only treatment that can possibly cure the disease. Non-invasive techniques provide information for the localization of the epileptic focus in the majority of cases, whereas in others invasive procedures are required. In the last years, non-invasive neuroimaging techniques, such as simultaneous recording of functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalogram (EEG-fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), electric and magnetic source imaging (MSI, ESI), spectroscopy (MRS), have proved their usefulness in defining the epileptic focus. The combination of these functional techniques can yield complementary information and their concordance is crucial for guiding clinical decision, namely the planning of invasive EEG recordings or respective surgery. The aim of this review is to present these non-invasive neuroimaging techniques, their potential combination, and their role in the pre-surgical evaluation of patients with pharmaco-resistant epilepsy.

Patterns of the UP-Down state in normal and epileptic mice

Goal of this manuscript is to investigate whether changes that exist in epileptic brain generating spontaneous seizures are reflected in the pattern of the UP-Down state (UDS) recorded from the neocortex and dentate gyrus. Experiments were carried out on naive and epileptic mice under urethane anesthesia. Local field potentials were recorded with chronically implanted microelectrodes and single unit activity was recorded with glass microelectrodes. Recorded neurons were labeled by neurobiotin and identified later as granular cells or interneurons in histological sections. The following major features differentiate the pattern of UDS in epilepsy from normal. (1) The duration of UP and Down phases is significantly longer. (2) Recovery of network excitability after termination of the UP phase is longer. (3) UP-spikes occur during the UP phase, which transiently interrupt the development of the normal electrographic pattern of UP phase. Our data provide evidence that UP-spikes result from gigantic EPSPs generated in response to afferent activity. UP-spikes in the neocortex and dentate gyrus occur in close temporal relationship indicating the existence of direct or indirect pathological functional connections between these areas. Changes in the duration of UP and Down phases as well increased time of recovery of excitability of epileptic brain after termination of UP phase suggest alterations in the homeostatic properties of neuronal network in epileptic brain. We suggest that the existence of UP-spikes in epileptic brain may be an additional electrographic pattern indicating epileptogenicity. Unraveling the neuronal substrates of UP-spikes may further improve our understanding of the mechanisms of epilepsy.

A mechanistic appraisal of cognitive dysfunction in epilepsy

A strong relationship between the clinical characteristics of epilepsy and the nature of cognitive impairments associated with the condition has been found, but the nature of this relationship appears to be quite complex and not well understood. This review presents a summary of the research on the interaction between cognition and epilepsy, surveyed from a mechanistic perspective with the aim of clarifying factors that contribute to the co-existence of both disorders. The physiological basis underpinning cognitive processing is first reviewed. The physiology of epilepsy is reviewed, with emphasis placed on interictal discharges and seizures. The nature of the impact of epilepsy on cognition is described, with transient and prolonged effects distinguished. Finally, the complexity of the co-morbidity between cognitive dysfunction and epilepsy is discussed in relation to childhood and adult-onset epilepsy syndromes and severe epileptic encephalopathies. Structural and functional abnormalities exist in patients with epilepsy that may underpin both the cognitive dysfunction and epilepsy, highlighting the complexity of the association. Research, possibly of a longitudinal nature, is needed to elucidate this multifactorial relationship between cognitive dysfunction and epilepsy.

A multimodal imaging approach to the evaluation of post-traumatic epilepsy

Object

Electroencephalography-functional magnetic resonance imaging (EEG-fMRI) coregistration and high-density EEG (hdEEG) can be combined to map noninvasively abnormal brain activation elicited by epileptic processes. By combining noninvasive imaging techniques in a multimodal approach, we sought to investigate pathophysiological mechanisms underlying epileptic activity in seven patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

Materials and methods

Standard EEG and fMRI data were acquired during a single scanning session. The EEG-fMRI data were analyzed using the general linear model and independent component analysis. Source localization of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) was performed using 256-channel hdEEG. Blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) localizations were then compared to EEG source reconstruction.

Results

On hdEEG, focal source localization was detected in all seven patients; in six out of seven it was concordant with the expected epileptic activity as defined by EEG data and clinical evaluation; and in four out of seven in whom IEDs were recorded, BOLD signal changes were observed. These activities were partially concordant with the source localization.

Conclusion

Multimodal integration of EEG-fMRI and hdEEG combining two different methods to localize the same epileptic foci appears to be a promising tool to noninvasively map abnormal brain activation in patients with post-traumatic brain injury.

Contribution of EEG/fMRI to the definition of the epileptic focus

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the clinical relevance of EEG/fMRI in patients with focal epilepsy, by assessing the information it adds to the scalp EEG in the definition of the epileptic focus.

METHODS

Forty-three patients with focal epilepsy were studied with EEG/fMRI using a 3-T scanner. Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal changes related to interictal epileptic discharges (IEDs) were classified as concordant or not concordant with the scalp EEG spike field and as contributory if the BOLD signal provided additional information to the scalp EEG about the epileptic focus or not contributory if it did not. We considered patients having intracerebral EEG or a focal lesion on MRI as having independent validation.

RESULTS

Thirty-three patients had at least 3 IEDs during the EEG/fMRI acquisition (active EEG), and all had a BOLD response. In 29 of 33 (88%) patients, the BOLD response was concordant, and in 21 of 33 (64%) patients, the BOLD response was contributory. Fourteen patients had an independent validation: in 12 of these 14, the BOLD responses were validated and in 2 they were invalidated.

CONCLUSIONS

A BOLD response was present in all patients with active EEG, and more specific localization of the epileptic focus was gained from EEG/fMRI in half of the patients who were scanned, when compared with scalp EEG alone. This study demonstrates that EEG/fMRI, in the context of a clinical practice, may contribute to the localization of the interictal epileptic generator in patients with focal epilepsy.

EEG-fMRI validation studies in comparison with icEEG: a review

Simultaneous EEG-fMRI is a non-invasive investigation technique developed to localize the generators of interictal epileptiform discharges (IED) in patients with epilepsy. Although the value of EEG-fMRI in epilepsy presurgical evaluation is being assessed clinically, its utility is still controversial. In this review, we considered EEG-fMRI applications in epilepsy presurgical evaluation with a focus on validation studies that compared the results of EEG-fMRI with those of the current "gold standard" intracranial EEG (icEEG) in order to assess its utility of seizure focus localization and the possibility for EEG-fMRI to reduce the need for invasive techniques such as icEEG. Since the advances of EEG-fMRI partially rely on the maturation of its data analysis, we also reviewed the methodological developments in EEG-fMRI analysis. It is possible that combining with other neuroimaging modalities such as MEG/MSI and ESI, EEG-fMRI may play a greater role in epilepsy presurgical evaluation.

Epileptic networks in focal cortical dysplasia revealed using electroencephalography-functional magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVE

Surgical treatment of focal epilepsy in patients with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is most successful if all epileptogenic tissue is resected. This may not be evident on structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), so intracranial electroencephalography (icEEG) is needed to delineate the seizure onset zone (SOZ). EEG-functional MRI (fMRI) can reveal interictal discharge (IED)-related hemodynamic changes in the irritative zone (IZ). We assessed the value of EEG-fMRI in patients with FCD-associated focal epilepsy by examining the relationship between IED-related hemodynamic changes, icEEG findings, and postoperative outcome.

METHODS

Twenty-three patients with FCD-associated focal epilepsy undergoing presurgical evaluation including icEEG underwent simultaneous EEG-fMRI at 3T. IED-related hemodynamic changes were modeled, and results were overlaid on coregistered T1-weighted MRI scans fused with computed tomography scans showing the intracranial electrodes. IED-related hemodynamic changes were compared with the SOZ on icEEG and postoperative outcome at 1 year.

RESULTS

Twelve of 23 patients had IEDs during recording, and 11 of 12 had significant IED-related hemodynamic changes. The fMRI results were concordant with the SOZ in 5 of 11 patients, all of whom had a solitary SOZ on icEEG. Four of 5 had >50% reduction in seizure frequency following resective surgery. The remaining 6 of 11 patients had widespread or discordant regions of IED-related fMRI signal change. Five of 6 had either a poor surgical outcome (<50% reduction in seizure frequency) or widespread SOZ precluding surgery.

INTERPRETATION

Comparison of EEG-fMRI with icEEG suggests that EEG-fMRI may provide useful additional information about the SOZ in FCD. Widely distributed discordant regions of IED-related hemodynamic change appear to be associated with a widespread SOZ and poor postsurgical outcome.

A case report of surgically treated drug resistant epilepsy associated with subependymal nodular heterotopia

Subependymal nodular heterotopia (SNH) is a cortical development malformation that is commonly associated with medically resistant epilepsy. Cases of SNH are challenging to treat surgically because there are typically multiple nodules, which may be involved in epileptogenesis. Moreover, dual pathology may exist in these patients. Here, we present a case with unilateral subependymal heterotopic nodules associated with ipsilateral hippocampal atrophy. Invasive and non-invasive work-ups revealed that the hippocampus was the actual ictal onset zone and that the SNH was not involved. An anterior temporal lobectomy was carried out, and postoperative seizure outcome was class Ia at the end of 2 years. The case demonstrates that SNH may not play a major role in patients with dual pathology. However, direct electroencephalography (EEG) recording from areas of SNH and other possible epileptogenic regions is indispensable in defining the ictal onset zone and avoiding poor surgical outcomes.

Mapping hemodynamic correlates of seizures using fMRI: A review

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is able to detect changes in blood oxygenation level associated with neuronal activity throughout the brain. For more than a decade, fMRI alone or in combination with simultaneous EEG recording (EEG-fMRI) has been used to investigate the hemodynamic changes associated with interictal and ictal epileptic discharges. This is the first literature review to focus on the various fMRI acquisition and data analysis methods applied to map epileptic seizure-related hemodynamic changes from the first report of an fMRI scan of a seizure to the present day. Two types of data analysis approaches, based on temporal correlation and data driven, are explained and contrasted. The spatial and temporal relationship between the observed hemodynamic changes using fMRI and other non-invasive and invasive electrophysiological and imaging data is considered. We then describe the role of fMRI in localizing and exploring the networks involved in spontaneous and triggered seizure onset and propagation. We also discuss that fMRI alone and combined with EEG hold great promise in the investigation of seizure-related hemodynamic changes non-invasively in humans. We think that this will lead to significant improvements in our understanding of seizures with important consequences for the treatment of epilepsy.

Combining EEG and fMRI in the study of epileptic discharges

The combining of electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a unique noninvasive method for investigating the brain regions involved at the time of epileptic discharges. The neuronal discharges taking place during an interictal spike or spike-wave burst result in an increase in metabolism and blood flow, which is reflected in the blood oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal measured by fMRI. This increase is most intense in the region generating the discharge but is also present in regions affected by the discharge. On occasion, epileptic discharges result in decreased metabolism, the origin of which is only partially understood. EEG-fMRI applied to focal epilepsy results in maxima of the BOLD signal most often concordant with other methods of localization and has been shown to help in localizing epileptic foci in nonlesional frontal lobe epilepsy. It has also demonstrated the involvement of the thalamus in generalized epileptic discharges. In patients with new-onset epilepsy it could be used to evaluate the source and extent of the brain structures involved during discharges and their evolution as the disease progresses.

EEG-fMRI reveals activation of brainstem and thalamus in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

PURPOSE

Even if etiologies of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) are diverse, the multiple causes converge into a final common pathway that results in this specific epilepsy phenotype. There is little knowledge, however, about neuronal networks that may be a part of this pathway.

METHODS

To investigate these networks, 11 children with LGS and 9 control children with multifocal epileptic activity were investigated using simultaneous recordings of EEG and functional MRI (EEG-fMRI) in a 3 Tesla scanner.

KEY FINDINGS

Individual and group analyses revealed significant activation of brainstem and thalamus (especially centromedian and anterior thalamus) associated with epileptiform discharges in patients with LGS. None of the patients with multifocal epileptic activity presented with the same hemodynamic activation pattern.

SIGNIFICANCE

Because brainstem activation has been associated with infantile spasms, which often evolve into LGS, and thalamus activation has been observed in patients with primary (idiopathic generalized syndromes) and secondary (focal epilepsies) bilateral synchrony, the described network in LGS may represent the common pathogenetic pathway of these different conditions.

Layer I neocortical ectopia: cellular organization and local cortical circuitry

Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) are associated with neurological disorders and cognitive impairments in humans. Molecular layer ectopia, clusters of misplaced cells in layer I of the neocortex, have been identified in patients with developmental dyslexia and psychomotor retardation. Mouse models of this developmental disorder display behavioral impairments and increased seizure susceptibility. Although there is a correlation between cortical malformations and neurological dysfunction, little is known about the morphological and physiological properties of cells within cortical malformations. In the present study we used electrophysiological and immunocytochemical analyses to examine the distribution of neuronal and non-neuronal cell types within and surrounding layer I neocortical ectopia in NXSMD/EiJ mice. We show that cells within ectopia have membrane properties of both pyramidal and a variety of non-pyramidal cell types, including fast-spiking cells. Immunocytochemical analysis for different interneuronal subtypes demonstrates that ectopia contain nonpyramidal cells immunoreactive for calbindin-D28K (CALB), parvalbumin (PARV), and calretinin (CR). Ectopia also contains astrocytes, positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and oligodendrocyte precursor cells positive for NG2 proteoglycan (NG2). Lastly, we provide electrophysiological and morphological evidence to demonstrate that cells within ectopia receive input from cells within layers I, upper and deeper II/III, and V and provide outputs to cells within deep layer II/III and layer V, but not layers I and upper II/III. These results indicate that ectopia contain cells of different lineages with diverse morphological and physiological properties, and appear to cause disruptions in local cortical circuitry.

Imaging foci of epileptic discharges from simultaneous EEG and fMRI using the canonical HRF

PURPOSE

Simultaneous electroencephalography and functional magnetic resonance imaging (EEG-fMRI) is considered as a powerful and non-invasive method that allows definition of the irritative zone. However, the complex interictal epileptic discharge (IED) may be present in some patients, and sometimes no active foci can be localized using General Linear Model (GLM) which is a widely adopted tool in EEG-fMRI study. The purpose of this study is to develop a new scheme to improve the detectability and localize the canonical HRF localizable foci.

METHOD

Various IEDs are classified using a combination of an independent component analysis (ICA) and a temporal correlation analysis between the independent components and the raw EEG channel; and the classified IEDs are then separately used for foci localization. This scheme is tested by ten patients with variable IEDs, including two patients whose activity could not be identified by common method.

RESULT

Applying this scheme to the two patients, some foci consistent with electroclinical data were localized. When it was applied to the remaining eight patients with positive results using common method, 2-4 types of IEDs were classified, and the activity could be identified from at least one type of IED. The results were similar to that received from common method.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that the proposed scheme could enhance the imaging of the localizable foci by isolating its IEDs. This scheme is potentially a useful tool for epilepsy clinic.