Decreased Network Efficiency in Benign Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Radiology
• Epilepsy Research

Background:

• Benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) is a common childhood epilepsy syndrome.
• Understanding the underlying functional brain network alterations in BECTS is crucial for diagnosis and management.
• Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) offers a non-invasive method to assess brain connectivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate functional connectome alterations in children with BECTS.
• To examine the impact of interictal epileptic discharges (IEDs) on these functional connectome changes.
• To correlate functional network abnormalities with clinical characteristics of BECTS.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving 43 right-handed patients with BECTS, categorized into IED and non-IED groups.
• Simultaneous resting-state fMRI and electroencephalography (EEG) recorded at 3.0 T.
• Graph theoretical analysis applied to functional connectome features, compared with 28 age- and sex-matched controls.

Main Results:

• Both BECTS patient groups (with and without IEDs) demonstrated decreased global network efficiency compared to controls.
• Reduced regional efficiency and connectivity strength were observed in perirolandic and frontal areas in BECTS patients versus controls.
• Altered functional network features correlated significantly with disease duration and age at symptom onset.

Conclusions:

• Decreased global and regional network efficiency are prominent functional deficits in children with BECTS.
• These functional brain network alterations are detectable via resting-state fMRI, irrespective of IED presence.
• Resting-state fMRI is a valuable tool for identifying functional brain deficits in BECTS.