Review

Abnormal binding and disruption in large scale networks involved in human partial seizures

¹ INSERM, U1106, Marseille, F-13000, France
² Faculté de Médecine, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, F-13000, France
³ Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital de la Timone, Service de Neurophysiologie Clinique, CHU Timone-264 Rue st Pierre, Marseille, F-13000, France
⁴ INSERM, U1099, Rennes, F-35000, France
⁵ LTSI, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, F-35000, France
⁶ Centre de Resonance Magnetique Biologique et Medicale UMR CNRS 7339, Marseille, F-13000, France
⁷ Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital de la Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, F-13000, France

^* e-mail: fabrice.bartolomei@ap-hm.fr

Received: 23 March 2013
Accepted: 11 June 2013
Published online: 24 June 2013

Abstract

There is a marked increase in the amount of electrophysiological and neuroimaging works dealing with the study of large scale brain connectivity in the epileptic brain. Our view of the epileptogenic process in the brain has largely evolved over the last twenty years from the historical concept of “epileptic focus” to a more complex description of “Epileptogenic networks” involved in the genesis and “propagation” of epileptic activities. In particular, a large number of studies have been dedicated to the analysis of intracerebral EEG signals to characterize the dynamic of interactions between brain areas during temporal lobe seizures. These studies have reported that large scale functional connectivity is dramatically altered during seizures, particularly during temporal lobe seizure genesis and development. Dramatic changes in neural synchrony provoked by epileptic rhythms are also responsible for the production of ictal symptoms or changes in patient’s behaviour such as automatisms, emotional changes or consciousness alteration. Beside these studies dedicated to seizures, large-scale network connectivity during the interictal state has also been investigated not only to define biomarkers of epileptogenicity but also to better understand the cognitive impairments observed between seizures.