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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

A Multimodal Imaging- and Stimulation-based Method of Evaluating Connectivity-related Brain Excitability in Patients with Epilepsy
Published on: November 13, 2016
Absence epilepsy and periventricular nodular heterotopia.
M C Y de Wit1, H M Schippers, I F M de Coo
1Dept. of Pediatric Neurology, Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, The Netherlands. m.c.y.dewit@erasmusmc.nl
A 4.5-year-old girl with absence seizures and 3 Hz spike-wave activity on EEG had periventricular heterotopia. This brain malformation may contribute to the generation of her specific seizure type.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Epileptology
- Developmental Neuroscience
Background:
- Absence seizures are a type of generalized epilepsy characterized by brief lapses in awareness.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) often shows a characteristic 3 Hz spike-wave pattern in absence seizures.
- Brain malformations, including neuronal migration disorders, are increasingly recognized as potential causes of epilepsy.
Observation:
- A 4.5-year-old girl presented with typical absence seizures.
- EEG revealed sudden onset absence seizures with 3 Hz spike-wave discharges.
- Ocular deviation during seizures prompted brain imaging.
Findings:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) identified a periventricular nodular heterotopia in the right lateral ventricle.
- Periventricular heterotopia are considered potentially epileptogenic malformations.
- This finding suggests a possible link between neuronal migration disorders and specific EEG patterns.
Implications:
- Periventricular heterotopia may influence the striato-thalamo-cortical network involved in 3 Hz spike-wave generation.
- This case highlights the importance of investigating brain structure in pediatric epilepsy.
- Understanding the relationship between malformations and epilepsy subtypes can inform diagnosis and treatment.
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