Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 5, 2026

Using a Bipolar Electrode to Create a Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Mouse Model by Electrical Kindling of the Amygdala
09:49

Using a Bipolar Electrode to Create a Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Mouse Model by Electrical Kindling of the Amygdala

Published on: June 29, 2022

3.0K

Amygdala Enlargement in Patients with Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy without Hippocampal Sclerosis

Ana Carolina Coan1, Marcia Elisabete Morita, Brunno Machado de Campos

  • 1Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Neurology, State University of Campinas , Campinas , Brazil.

Frontiers in Neurology
|December 4, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy without MRI abnormalities (MTLE-NL) can show enlarged amygdala (AE) in 12% of cases. This AE may be linked to the epileptogenic process, offering new insights into MTLE-NL pathophysiology.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Epileptology
  • Neuroanatomy

Background:

  • Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy without MRI abnormalities (MTLE-NL) presents diagnostic challenges.
  • Previous findings suggested amygdala enlargement (AE) in a subset of MTLE patients.
  • Understanding the underlying pathology in MTLE-NL is crucial for presurgical evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate for undetected gray matter volume (GMV) increases in MTLE-NL using advanced MRI techniques.
  • To explore the potential role of amygdala enlargement in the pathophysiology of MTLE-NL.

Main Methods:

  • Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to analyze GMV in 66 MTLE-NL patients and 82 controls.
  • Automatic amygdala volumetry and T2 relaxometry were employed to confirm VBM findings.
  • Group analysis and individual volumetric analysis were performed.

Main Results:

  • VBM revealed significantly increased amygdala volume in the MTLE-NL group compared to controls.
  • Individual analysis confirmed AE in 12% of MTLE-NL patients.
  • In patients with AE and a defined epileptic focus, the enlarged amygdala was predominantly ipsilateral to the focus.

Conclusions:

  • This study demonstrates that 12% of MTLE-NL patients exhibit amygdala enlargement (AE).
  • The findings support the hypothesis that AE may be associated with the epileptogenic process in a subgroup of MTLE-NL patients.
  • Further research is needed, but AE could be significant for understanding MTLE-NL.
Keywords:
MRI-negativeamygdalatemporal lobe epilepsyvolumetryvoxel-based morphometry

More Related Videos

Anteromesial Temporal Lobectomy for Medically Intractable Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: An Operative Study11:29

Anteromesial Temporal Lobectomy for Medically Intractable Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: An Operative Study

Published on: August 15, 2025

3.2K
Network Analysis of the Default Mode Network Using Functional Connectivity MRI in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy12:09

Network Analysis of the Default Mode Network Using Functional Connectivity MRI in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Published on: August 5, 2014

17.3K

Related Concept Videos

Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System01:15

Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System

The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...
8.8K
Role of Amygdala in Memory01:16

Role of Amygdala in Memory

The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure responsible for processing and storing memories, particularly those linked to emotions like fear and stress. It plays an essential role in the brain's response to emotionally significant events and often enhances memory formation by triggering stress hormone release. The amygdala is vital for encoding and retrieving memories associated with fear or stress, a process that is adaptive by helping organisms avoid dangerous situations.
One of the...
1.9K
Role of Hippocampus in Memory01:19

Role of Hippocampus in Memory

The hippocampus, a critical brain structure, plays an essential role in memory processing, particularly in the formation and retrieval of memory. This small, seahorse-shaped region is located within the medial temporal lobe, with one hippocampus in each brain hemisphere. Experimental studies involving lesions in the hippocampi of rats have demonstrated significant impairments in tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation, indicating the hippocampus involvement in both recognition and...
2.0K