Intrinsic brain network stability during kainic acid-induced epileptogenesis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Epilepsy Research
• Functional Neuroimaging

Background:

• Altered intrinsic brain networks are linked to epilepsy and network reorganization during the latent period.
• The development and reliability of these networks in early epileptogenesis remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the test-retest reliability of intrinsic brain networks in the early stage of epileptogenesis.
• To identify changes in brain network stability and connectivity during the latent period of epilepsy.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the rat intrahippocampal kainic acid model for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.
• Acquired resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data over two weeks.
• Employed group independent component analysis (GICA) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to assess network reliability.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated good-to-excellent within-network stability in most intrinsic brain networks for both control and epilepsy groups.
• Observed reduced stability in frontal cortex (FCN) and hippocampal networks (HPN) in the epilepsy group.
• Found increased variation between networks in the epilepsy group compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• Intrinsic brain networks exhibit moderate stability within a two-week latent period.
• Functional connectivity increases during the latent period and persists across sessions.
• Brain networks show altered between- and within-network connectome features in early epilepsy.