Simultaneous EEG and functional MRI of epileptic activity: a case report

Objectives: Attempts to localize the source of epileptic activity by linkin g electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities to blued oxygenation level-de pendent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal alterations art: ham pered mainly by EEG distortions during MRI, subject motion, and unknown hem odynamic response characteristics. Methods: Using T2*-weighted echo-planar imaging at 2.0 T (2 s temporal reso lution, 2x2x4 mm(3) spatial resolution). this work demonstrates strategies to alleviate some of these problems while studying a patient who had ideopa thic generalized epilepsy with polyspike and slow-wave complexes. Results: Continuous EEG recordings during dynamic MRI (500 ms scanning, 150 0 ms delay) and post-examination derivation of an EEG reference function fo r MRI analysis revealed positive BOLD MRI responses with temporal character istics similar to those obtained fur functional challenges. Conclusions: The ability to map focal epileptic activity and/or associated cognitive processing provides new potential fur both epilepsy research and clinical patient management. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rig hts I reserved.