title: EEG-EMG information flow in movement-activated myoclonus in patients with Unverricht-Lundborg disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed the present study at estimating the appropriateness of generalised partial directed coherence (GPDC) in detecting myoclonus-related EEG-EMG connectivity pattern and the information flow between sensorimotor cortex and muscles in patients with typical cortical myoclonus due to Unverricht-Lundborg disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 13 patients with cortical myoclonus, we analysed the EEG and EMG signals recorded during simple voluntary motor activities using GPDC, a frequency domain linear index of connectivity estimated from a multivariate autoregressive model. The results were compared with those obtained in 12 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The GPDC revealed a peculiar pattern characterising patients with cortical myoclonus with respect to healthy subjects. Patients consistently had significant more robust outflow toward activated muscle originating from cortical areas exceeding the motor one. Moreover, they also had a more robust EMG outflow directed toward a wider cortical area contralateral to activated hand and sometimes also toward the ipsilateral central region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results clearly indicate the recruitment of extensive cortical network in afferent and efferent EEG-EMG relationships.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given that robust cortical outflow can be considered as the pathogenic mechanism sustaining myoclonus, the perturbation from the EMG outflow could lead to the involvement of large cortical area implied in sensorimotor integration and became capable of generating and maintaining the jerk recurrence.
authors: Department of Neurophysiology, C. Besta Neurological Institute IRCCS Foundation, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: panzica@istituto-besta.it.
authors: Ferruccio
authors: F
authors: Panzica
authors: Department of Neurophysiology, C. Besta Neurological Institute IRCCS Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Canafoglia
authors: Department of Neurophysiology, C. Besta Neurological Institute IRCCS Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors: Silvana
authors: S
authors: Franceschetti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology; D011999:Recruitment, Neurophysiological; D020194:Unverricht-Lundborg Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014953:Wrist / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Cortical myoclonus; EEG; EPM1; GPDC; MVAR