Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2024, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (12): 2637-2648.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.391307

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Epileptic brain network mechanisms and neuroimaging techniques for the brain network

Yi Guo1, #, Zhonghua Lin2, #, Zhen Fan3, *, Xin Tian4, *   

  1. 1Department of Neurology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; 2Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; 3Department of Geriatrics, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; 4Department of Neurology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
  • Online:2024-12-15 Published:2024-03-30
  • Contact: Xin Tian, MD, PhD, xintian@cqmu.edu.cn; Zhen Fan, MD, PhD, fanzhen_dr@163.com.
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province of China, Nos. 2022NSFSC1545 (to YG), 2022NSFSC1387 (to ZF); the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing of China, Nos. CSTB2022NSCQ-LZX0038, cstc2021ycjh-bgzxm0035 (both to XT); the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82001378 (to XT); the Joint Project of Chongqing Health Commission and Science and Technology Bureau, No. 2023QNXM009 (to XT); the Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Education Commission of China, No. KJQN202200435 (to XT); the Chongqing Talents: Exceptional Young Talents Project, No. CQYC202005014 (to XT).

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Abstract: Epilepsy can be defined as a dysfunction of the brain network, and each type of epilepsy involves different brain-network changes that are implicated differently in the control and propagation of interictal or ictal discharges. Gaining more detailed information on brain network alterations can help us to further understand the mechanisms of epilepsy and pave the way for brain network-based precise therapeutic approaches in clinical practice. An increasing number of advanced neuroimaging techniques and electrophysiological techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging-based fiber tractography, diffusion kurtosis imaging-based fiber tractography, fiber ball imaging-based tractography, electroencephalography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, magnetoencephalography, positron emission tomography, molecular imaging, and functional ultrasound imaging have been extensively used to delineate epileptic networks. In this review, we summarize the relevant neuroimaging and neuroelectrophysiological techniques for assessing structural and functional brain networks in patients with epilepsy, and extensively analyze the imaging mechanisms, advantages, limitations, and clinical application ranges of each technique. A greater focus on emerging advanced technologies, new data analysis software, a combination of multiple techniques, and the construction of personalized virtual epilepsy models can provide a theoretical basis to better understand the brain network mechanisms of epilepsy and make surgical decisions.

Key words: electrophysiological techniques, epilepsy, functional brain network, functional magnetic resonance imaging, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, machine leaning, molecular imaging, neuroimaging techniques, structural brain network, virtual epileptic models