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Network Analysis of the Default Mode Network Using Functional Connectivity MRI in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Published on: August 5, 2014
Preoperative amygdala fMRI in temporal lobe epilepsy
Silvia B Bonelli1, Robert Powell, Mahinda Yogarajah
1Dept of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, NSE MRI Unit, Institute of Neurology UCL, Queen Square, London, United Kingdom.
Epilepsia
|August 23, 2008
Summary
Functional MRI revealed that right amygdala activation before surgery predicts emotional disturbances after anterior temporal lobe resection for temporal lobe epilepsy. This finding aids in anticipating postoperative mood changes in epilepsy patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Epilepsy Research
- Functional Neuroimaging
Background:
- Anterior temporal lobe resections (ATLR) treat refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), but can cause emotional disturbances.
- The amygdala's role in emotion processing and its predictive value for postsurgical emotional changes in TLE require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate amygdala activation during emotion processing in TLE patients using fMRI.
- To determine if amygdala activation patterns can predict emotional disturbances after ATLR.
Main Methods:
- 54 mesial TLE patients (28 right, 26 left) and 21 controls underwent fMRI viewing fearful and neutral faces.
- 21 TLE patients had ATLR; anxiety and depression were assessed pre- and postoperatively.
Main Results:
- Healthy controls showed left-lateralized amygdala activation to fearful faces; right TLE patients showed bilateral activation.
- Left TLE patients exhibited reduced amygdala activation compared to controls and right TLE patients.
- In right TLE patients, preoperative amygdala activation correlated with preoperative and postoperative anxiety and depression levels.
Conclusions:
- The fearful face fMRI paradigm reliably visualizes amygdala activation in TLE.
- Preoperative right amygdala activation predicts emotional disturbances following right ATLR.
