title: Noninvasive real time tomographic imaging of epileptic foci and networks.
abstract: While brain imaging and electrophysiology play a central role in neuroscience research and in the evaluation of neurological disorders, a single noninvasive modality that offers both high spatial and temporal resolution is currently not available. Here we show in an acute epilepsy rat model that photoacoustic tomography (PAT) can noninvasively track seizure brain dynamics with both high spatial and temporal resolution, and at a depth that is clinically relevant. The noninvasive yet whole surface and depth capabilities of the PAT system allowed us to actually see what is happening during ictogenesis in terms of seizure onset and spread. Both seizure onset and propagation were tomographically detected at a spatial resolution of 150μm and a temporal resolution of 300ms, respectively. The current study lends support to the theory that seizure onset and spread involves a rich interplay between multiple cortical and subcortical brain areas during the onset and spread of epileptic seizures. Dynamical changes of vasculature during epileptiform events were also detected with high spatiotemporal resolution. Together, these findings suggest that PAT represents a powerful tool for noninvasively mapping seizure onset and propagation patterns, and the 'functional' connectivity within epileptic brain networks.
authors.affiliation: J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Liangzhong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Qizhi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Max S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics, Neurology, and Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; Wilder Center of Excellence for Epilepsy Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Junli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; Departments of Pediatrics, Neurology, and Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; Wilder Center of Excellence for Epilepsy Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Carney
authors.affiliation: J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. Electronic address: hjiang@bme.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Huabei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D061088:Photoacoustic Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014054:Tomography / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Epileptic foci and networks; Noninvasive seizure dynamic imaging; Pre-surgical planning; Real time photoacoustic tomography (PAT)