Resting-State fMRI Functional Connectivity Alterations in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy Compared to Well-Controlled...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Epilepsy affects 50 million globally, with one-third experiencing drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE).
• Understanding functional connectivity (FC) differences in DRE is crucial for targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) variations in patients with DRE versus those with well-controlled epilepsy (WCE) and healthy controls (HCs).

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 92 participants (30 DRE, 30 WCE, 32 HCs).
• Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data analyzed using the CONN Toolbox for FC changes.

Main Results:

• DRE patients exhibited increased FC between the left lateral prefrontal cortex, left inferior temporal gyrus, and cerebellum with various brain regions.
• Decreased FC was noted between posterior cingulate cortex, precuneus, and right planum polare with frontal, temporal, and occipital areas.
• Specific FC alterations involving the right nucleus accumbens were observed in DRE patients.

Conclusions:

• Functional connectivity alterations in DRE provide insights into underlying neuronal networks.
• These findings may enhance diagnostic accuracy and inform future therapeutic strategies for DRE.