Functional Connectivity of the Anterior Nucleus of the Thalamus in Pediatric Focal Epilepsy.

ABSTRACT: Objective: Whilst stimulation of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus has shown efficacy for reducing seizure frequency in adults, alterations in thalamic connectivity have not been explored in children. We tested the hypotheses that (a) the anterior thalamus has increased functional connectivity in children with focal epilepsy, and (b) this alteration in the connectome is a persistent effect of the disease rather than due to transient epileptiform activity. Methods: Data from 35 children (7-18 years) with focal, drug-resistant epilepsy and 20 healthy children (7-17 years) were analyzed. All subjects underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) whilst resting and were simultaneously monitored with scalp electroencephalography (EEG). The fMRI timeseries were extracte

SUBMITTER: Piper RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8365837 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature