Stable Yet Destabilised: Towards Understanding Brain Network Dynamics in Psychogenic Disorders

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Clinical Neurology
• Systems Biology

Background:

• Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) present with seizure-like episodes but lack the abnormal electrical activity characteristic of epilepsy.
• Distinguishing PNES from epilepsy and normal brain function is challenging due to limited etiologic models and diagnostic methods.
• Understanding the underlying brain dynamics of PNES is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare the brain dynamics of individuals with PNES, epilepsy, and healthy controls.
• To identify subject-specific differences in local and global functional brain network characteristics.
• To explore the potential of network analysis as a diagnostic tool for differentiating PNES from epilepsy.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the network ansatz to analyze time-evolving functional brain networks.
• Examined both local (region-specific) and global (network-wide) characteristics of brain activity.
• Compared brain dynamics in individuals with PNES, epilepsy, and a control group during interictal periods (far-off seizures).

Main Results:

• Observed significant subject-specific differences in local network characteristics across the groups, reflecting distinct regional brain functioning.
• Identified significant differences in global network characteristics related to brain communication, robustness, and stability.
• Demonstrated that functional brain network analysis can reveal unique patterns associated with PNES.

Conclusions:

• The study provides novel insights into the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying PNES.
• Findings suggest that functional brain network analysis offers a promising avenue for developing objective diagnostic methods for PNES.
• Differentiating PNES from epilepsy may be enhanced by assessing brain network properties.