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From brain connectivity to cognitive function: Dissecting the salience network in pediatric BECTS-ESES
Ahmed Ameen Fateh1, Abla Smahi2, Muhammad Hassan1
1Department of Radiology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen 518038, China.
Dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) disruptions in the Salience Network (SN) are linked to cognitive deficits in children with Benign Childhood Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes and Electrical Status Epilepticus during Sleep (BECTS-ESES). These findings highlight the SN
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Benign Childhood Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes (BECTS) can lead to cognitive decline, especially when complicated by Electrical Status Epilepticus during Sleep (ESES).
- The Salience Network (SN) is increasingly implicated in the cognitive deficits associated with BECTS-ESES.
- This study investigates dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) within the SN and its relationship to cognitive impairments in BECTS-ESES.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) within the Salience Network (SN) in children with BECTS-ESES.
- To correlate observed dFC patterns with specific cognitive deficits.
- To establish the SN's role as a potential biomarker for cognitive impairment in pediatric epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- Utilized resting-state fMRI and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) to identify SN nodes (rAI, lAI, ACC) in 45 BECTS-ESES patients and 55 healthy controls.
- Employed two-sample t-tests to compare dFC between SN regions and other brain areas.
- Conducted comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations and regression analyses to link dFC alterations to cognitive impairments.
Main Results:
- BECTS-ESES patients showed increased dFC between the ACC and right Middle Occipital Gyrus, rAI and right Superior Parietal Gyrus/Cerebellum, and lAI and left Postcentral Gyrus.
- These dFC augmentations were mapped to specific cognitive deficits including memory, executive function, language, and attention.
- A preliminary association was found between dFC disturbances and cognitive impairments, underscoring the SN's role.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic functional connectivity within the SN is a potential biomarker for cognitive impairment in pediatric epilepsy.
- Targeted, cognitive-specific interventions may benefit BECTS-ESES management.
- Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm causal relationships and fully elucidate the role of dFC in BECTS-ESES.
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