Chronological changes in phase-amplitude coupling during epileptic seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy

To analyze chronological changes in phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) and verify whether PAC analysis can diagnose epileptogenic zones during seizures.

We analyzed 30 seizures in 10 patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy who had ictal discharges with preictal spiking followed by low-voltage fast activity patterns on intracranial electroencephalography. We used the amplitude of two high-frequency bands (ripples: 80-200 Hz, fast ripples: 200-300 Hz) and the phase of three slow wave bands (0.5-1 Hz, 3-4 Hz, and 4-8 Hz) for modulation index (MI) calculation from 2 minutes before seizure onset to seizure termination. We evaluated the accuracy of epileptogenic zone detection by MI, in which a combination of MI was better for diagnosis and analyzed patterns of chronological changes in MI during seizures.

MI_{Ripples/3-4 Hz} and MI_{Ripples/4-8 Hz} in the hippocampus were significantly higher than those in the peripheral regions from seizure onset. Corresponding to the phase on intracranial electroencephalography, MI_{Ripples/3-4 Hz} decreased once and subsequently increased again. MI_{Ripples/4-8 Hz} showed continuously high values.

Continuous measurement of MI_{Ripples/3-4 Hz} and MI_{Ripples/4-8 Hz} could help identify epileptogenic zones.

PAC analysis of ictal epileptic discharges can help epileptogenic zone identification.