| Title: |
Static and dynamic intracerebral signal analysis reveals protective networks against seizures in drug-resistant focal epilepsy |
| Authors: |
Di Giacomo, Roberta; Núñez, Pablo; Poza, Jesús; Rodríguez-González, Victor; Gómez, Carlos; Burini, Alessandra; Castana, Laura; de Curtis, Marco; Tassi, Laura; Varotto, Giulia |
| Contributors: |
Associazione Paolo Zorzi per le Neuroscienze; Italian Ministry of Health; Spanish Ministry of Universities; Universidad Politecnica de Madrid; European Union; NextGenerationEU; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación; Agencia Estatal de Investigación; European Regional Development Fund; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina; Instituto de Salud Carlos III |
| Source: |
Brain Communications ; volume 8, issue 2 ; ISSN 2632-1297 |
| Publisher Information: |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Description: |
Epilepsy research increasingly emphasizes the role of brain network dynamics in seizure generation and propagation. Nevertheless, the interplay between the mechanisms that enhance or inhibit seizure initiation remains poorly understood. In this study, we explore both static and dynamic functional brain networks preceding ictal minor electrical discharges and major seizures, within epileptogenic and non-epileptogenic zones, using intracerebral recordings from patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. Stereo-electroencephalographic signals were recorded from 39 patients with focal drug-resistant epilepsy during pre-surgical monitoring. Static functional connectivity was quantified using graph theory metrics, whereas dynamic connectivity was characterized through the analysis of the complexity and dwell times of brain meta-state activations. Static connectivity analysis revealed significant alterations in network centrality, integration, and segregation properties, with distinct patterns characterizing resting conditions, minor electrical discharges and major seizures. Specifically, network analysis before minor electrical discharges exhibited increased nodal strength and reduced betweenness centrality in the epileptogenic zone, associated with greater integration and reduced segregation in non-epileptogenic zones. Dynamic connectivity analysis showed lower complexity and longer stability of meta-states before minor electrical discharges, particularly in high-frequency signals of non-epileptogenic zones. Taken together, our findings provide novel and valuable insights into the topological organization and the dynamic changes of brain networks before epileptic seizures, suggesting the presence of a protective mechanism, mainly involving non-epileptogenic zones, able to prevent minor electrical discharges to evolve into a mayor seizure. A better understanding of these network changes is pivotal for improving therapeutic strategies in epilepsy, particularly those targeting dynamic network alterations. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
English |
| DOI: |
10.1093/braincomms/fcag047 |
| DOI: |
10.1093/braincomms/fcag047/67016199/fcag047.pdf |
| Availability: |
https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcag047; https://academic.oup.com/braincomms/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/braincomms/fcag047/67016199/fcag047.pdf; https://academic.oup.com/braincomms/article-pdf/8/2/fcag047/67016199/fcag047.pdf |
| Rights: |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.AD990783 |
| Database: |
BASE |