Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026

A Multimodal Imaging- and Stimulation-based Method of Evaluating Connectivity-related Brain Excitability in Patients with Epilepsy
Published on: November 13, 2016
Cerebral vasomotor reactivity in epilepsy patients
Semai Bek1, Tayfun Kaşikçi, Güray Koç
1Department of Neurology, Gulhane Medical Faculty, 06018 Etlik-Ankara, Turkey. semaibek@yahoo.com
Abstract:
Vasomotor reactivity, which can be defined as the cerebral vasculature response to hypoxia, is not well known in epilepsy patients. We aimed to evaluate cerebrovascular reserve in idiopathic generalized epilepsy patients using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD). The study included 20 patients and 20 healthy volunteers. Diagnosis of epilepsy was based on the observation of seizure in the video electroencephalography unit. Cerebrovascular reactivity was evaluated by means of the breath-holding index. Insonation depth and basal velocity were symmetrical and not significantly different between the two groups (p[0.05). The breath-holding index ranged from 0.62 to 4.45 (mean 2.13 +/- 0.83) in the epilepsy patients and 0.57 to 2.55 (mean 1.60 +/- 0.46) in the control group (p\0.05). Breath-holding index values showed that cerebrovascular reserve in epilepsy patients was increased, as compared to healthy individuals. Cerebrovascular reserve was increased in epilepsy patients; this should not be accepted as an abnormality, but might have been the result of an adaptive mechanism that protects the brain from hypoxic challenges due to seizure apnea.
Related Concept Videos
Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
Seizures: Classification
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Cerebral Edema l: Introduction
