Neural correlates of rhythmic rocking in prefrontal seizures

Rhythmic body rocking movements may occur in prefrontal epileptic seizures. Here, we compare quantified time-evolving frequency of stereotyped rocking with signal analysis of intracerebral electroencephalographic data.

In a single patient, prefrontal seizures with rhythmic anteroposterior body rocking recorded on stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) were analyzed using fast Fourier transform, time-frequency decomposition and phase amplitude coupling, with regards to quantified video data. Comparison was made with seizures without rocking in the same patient, as well as resting state data.

Rocking movements in the delta (∼1 Hz) range began a few seconds after SEEG onset of low voltage fast discharge. During rocking movements: (1) presence of a peak of delta band activity was visible in bipolar montage, with maximal power in epileptogenic zone and corresponding to mean rocking frequency; (2) correlation, using phase amplitude coupling, was shown between the phase of this delta activity and high-gamma power in the epileptogenic zone and the anterior cingulate region.

Here, delta range rhythmic body rocking was associated with cortical delta oscillatory activity and phase-coupled high-gamma energy. These results suggest a neural signature during expression of motor semiology incorporating both temporal features associated with rhythmic movements and spatial features of seizure discharge.