title: Increased interhemispheric resting-state in idiopathic generalized epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures: a resting-state fMRI study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim is to examine the resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) between the two hemispheres and its relationships with clinical characteristic in idiopathic generalized epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures only (IGE-GTCS) patients using a technique called "voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC)".
  
  
  METHODS
  The resting-state functional MRI (Rs-fMRI) was used to measure the RSFC in patients with IGE-GTC and age-gender matched healthy subjects. The between-group difference in interhemispheric RSFC was examined after the interhemispheric RSFC map was obtained by an automated VMHC approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the controls, the IGE-GTCS patients showed significant increases in VMHC in the bilateral anterior cingulate and medial prefrontal gyrus. No areas showed decreased VMHC in patients. Moreover, the VMHC in bilateral thalamus, orbital frontal cortex as well as cerebellum showed significant negative correlations with the illness duration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current findings provide preliminary evidence of increased interhemispheric RSFC in patients with IGE-GTCS during the interictal period. These VMHC deficits in these regions and the inverse relations between VMHC and clinical characteristic may play an important role in the pathophysiology of IGE-GTCS. Our study may contribute to the understanding of neuro-pathophysiological mechanism of epilepsy and psychosocial function impairments in patients with IGE-GTCS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Si Chuan University, Cheng du, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Tianhua
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Si Chuan University, Cheng du, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Jiechuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Si Chuan University, Cheng du, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Qifu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, PR China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, PR China.
authors.forename: Du
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Si Chuan University, Cheng du, Sichuan, PR China. Electronic address: qiyonggong@hmrrc.org.cn.
authors.forename: Qiyong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Si Chuan University, Cheng du, Sichuan, PR China. Electronic address: zhoudong66@yahoo.de.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D054022:Cerebrum / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Functional connectivity; IGE; Interhemispheric; VMHC; fMRI