title: EEG-fMRI study of generalized spike and wave discharges without transitory cognitive impairment.
abstract: Generalized spike and wave discharges (GSW) are often accompanied by transitory cognitive impairment (TCI). As a possible neurophysiological correlate of TCI, activation in the thalamus and deactivation in the frontoparietal brain regions associated with GSW were discussed in previous studies which used simultaneous recordings of EEG and functional MRI (EEG-fMRI) in patients with absence epilepsy. We report on a girl having GSW up to 10seconds without any clinical concomitants. The girl underwent an EEG-fMRI investigation with simultaneous behavioral testing (continuous performance task). Although GSW repeatedly occurred during the task, no TCI was observed. EEG-fMRI revealed bilateral deactivation in frontoparietal brain areas and activation in the thalamus in association with GSWs. This study challenges the relation between cognitive impairment during absences and the characteristic pattern of thalamic activation and deactivation in frontoparietal areas associated with GSW.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropediatrics, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany. f.moeller@pedneuro.uni-kiel.de
authors.forename: Friederike
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moeller
authors.forename: Hiltrud
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Muhle
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wiegand
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stephani
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siniatchkin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen