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Striatal activation during blepharospasm revealed by fMRI.
Kerstin E Schmidt1, David E J Linden, Rainer Goebel
1Department of Neurophysiology, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. schmidt@mpih-frankfurt.mpg.de
Neurology
|June 11, 2003
Summary
Brain imaging reveals the putamen is activated during eyelid spasms in patients with benign essential blepharospasm. This suggests the striatum plays a role in initiating or executing these involuntary movements.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Benign essential blepharospasm is a focal dystonia characterized by involuntary eyelid spasms.
- The precise neural mechanisms underlying blepharospasm initiation and execution remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify specific brain regions associated with the initiation and execution of eyelid spasms in patients with benign essential blepharospasm.
- To compare brain activity during spasms with activity during voluntary eye blinks in healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed to measure brain activity.
- The blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal was correlated with epochs of frequent eyelid spasm in patients and voluntary eye blinks in healthy subjects.
Main Results:
- A distinct subregion of the putamen showed activation during eyelid spasm epochs in all patients, a pattern not observed during voluntary blinking in controls.
- Common activation areas between patients and controls included the frontal and parietal operculum, supplementary motor area, primary sensorimotor cortex, visual areas, and cerebellum.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest the striatum, specifically the putamen, may be implicated in the initiation or execution of eyelid spasms.
- Further research, potentially incorporating electromyography (EMG) during fMRI, is warranted to elucidate the temporal sequence and functional roles of other activated brain regions.