Brain functional connectivity patterns in focal cortical dysplasia related epilepsy

ObjectiveFocal cortical dysplasia (FCD) appears to be strongly associated with intractable epilepsy. Although patients FCD are candidates for epilepsy surgery, gray matter structural abnormalities can extend beyond the primary lesion, which makes surgery less effective. The objective of this study was evaluate functional connectivity patterns in explore underlying pathological mechanism disorder.MethodsA total 34 (14 men) and [mean age ± standard deviation (SD), 24.5 9.8 years; range, 8–47 years] age-matched healthy controls men, 24.6 9.7 years) underwent magnetic resonance imaging. Independent component analysis (ICA), seed-based connectivity, graph theory were applied analyze brain.ResultsPatients showed more connections among dorsal attention network, anterior default mode sensorimotor brain networks than based on ICA. Analysis between regions interest (ROIs) greater frontal temporal regions, but lower cerebellum regions. normalized characteristic path length significantly higher group patients, two groups no significant differences global or regional efficiency, clustering coefficient length.ConclusionsAnalysis ICA-derived ROI-based suggests that disrupted interactions dysconnectivity large-scale neural frontotemporal-cerebellar may contribute mechanisms FCD-related