Network analysis of generalized epileptic discharges

Abstract

The ultimate goal of network analysis of generalized epilepsy is to get a better understanding of the mechanisms related to the cortico-thalamo-cortical interactions responsible for the bilateral and synchronously occurring Spike-and-Wave Discharges (SWDs), which are so typically for absence seizures. The network analysis results of cortico-thalamic and thalamo-thalamic interactions in the WAG/Rij rat presented here modify the current view in showing that the thalamus is heterogeneous with respect to the dynamics in connectivity with the cortex. Some thalamic nuclei get earlier involved than others and intrathalamic dynamics are involved as well. For the MEG analysis of children with absence epilepsy presented partly the same signal analytical techniques were used as in the WAG/Rij rat studies. Evidence is discussed that these results are reminiscent to what can be observed for absence seizures of the WAG/Rij rat, namely that the pattern of bilateral synchronous generalized activity (during the waves of the SWDs) is occurring via widespread cortico-thalamo-cortical pathways, while there is a cortical source driving these generalized discharges. The methods for network analysis presented to discern the mechanisms generating the SWDs may be of diagnostic help for the clinician.