Federico, PaoloWoodward, Kristine2013-05-312013-11-122013-05-312013Woodward, 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/27016http://hdl.handle.net/11023/747Frontal 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.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.NeuroscienceRadiologyEpilepsymaster thesis10.11575/PRISM/27016