title: Low-frequency electric cortical stimulation has an inhibitory effect on epileptic focus in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to investigate the effect of low-frequency electric cortical stimulation on epileptic focus in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  We stimulated the epileptic focus in a patient with medically intractable mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) by means of subdural electrodes and evaluated the change in the number of interictal epileptiform discharges. We used biphasic electric current of 0.3-ms duration presented at 0.9-Hz frequency for 250 s, comparing stimulus intensity of 7.5, 2, and 0.5 mA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interictal epileptiform discharges at the ictal focus occurred less frequently after the stimulation with the intensity of 0.5 mA. With the intensity of 7.5 mA and 2.0 mA, however, habitual auras were elicited by the stimulation, and afterdischarges were seen on the cortical EEG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-frequency, low-intensity electric cortical stimulation could produce inhibitory effects on epileptic activity. At the same time, however, a caution for possible induction of EEG seizures is needed, even when applying low-frequency electric stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Human Brain Research Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Shogoin, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Satow
authors.forename: Kazuhide
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeshita
authors.forename: Motohiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuhashi
authors.forename: Riki
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohara
authors.forename: Nobuhiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mikuni
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Waro
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Taki
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rothwell
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shibasaki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome