Motor Network Organization in Frontal Lobe Epilepsy
Abstract
Frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) is a seizure disorder that commonly coincides with functional motor deficits. While the source of these deficits is unknown, it is postulated that repeated seizure activity within the frontal lobe might impact the proximate motor network. To examine this hypothesis, motor networks were compared between participants with right FLE, left FLE, and controls using two methods. The first was a task-based fMRI study of brain activation during simple and complex motor tasks, and the second was a resting-state fMRI study of motor network connectivity. Both studies revealed motor network disturbances in participants with FLE, disturbances that were more pronounced in participants with higher seizure burden factors. These results show that motor networks are altered in FLE. In the future, motor fMRI studies may help identify the locations of seizure foci, predict post-surgical motor deficits, and ultimately improve the quality of life of patients with FLE.
Description
Keywords
Neuroscience, Radiology
Citation
Woodward, K. (2013). Motor Network Organization in Frontal Lobe Epilepsy (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/27016