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Metabolic networks in epilepsy by MR spectroscopic imaging
Author(s) -
Pan J. W.,
Spencer D. D.,
Kuzniecky R.,
Duckrow R. B.,
Hetherington H.,
Spencer S. S.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2012.01665.x
Subject(s) - epilepsy , basal ganglia , mesial temporal lobe epilepsy , neuroscience , insula , temporal lobe , connectome , thalamus , functional connectivity , limbic system , psychology , medicine , central nervous system
Objective The concept of an epileptic network has long been suggested from both animal and human studies of epilepsy. Based on the common observation that the MR spectroscopic imaging measure of NAA / C r is sensitive to neuronal function and injury, we use this parameter to assess for the presence of a metabolic network in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy ( MTLE ) patients. Materials and methods A multivariate factor analysis is performed with controls and MTLE patients, using NAA / C r measures from 12 loci: the bilateral hippocampi, thalami, basal ganglia, and insula. The factor analysis determines which and to what extent these loci are metabolically covarying. Results We extract two independent factors that explain the data's variability in control and MTLE patients. In controls, these factors characterize a ‘thalamic’ and ‘dominant subcortical’ function. The MTLE patients also exhibit a ‘thalamic’ factor, in addition to a second factor involving the ipsilateral insula and bilateral basal ganglia. Conclusions These data suggest that MTLE patients demonstrate a metabolic network that involves the thalami, also seen in controls. The MTLE patients also display a second set of metabolically covarying regions that may be a manifestation of the epileptic network that characterizes limbic seizure propagation.