Ahmed Ameen Fateh , Abla Smahi , Muhammad Hassan , Cristina Cañete-Massé , Adam A.Q. Mohammed , Feng Yue , Zhanqi Hu , Hongwu Zeng
{"title":"Dynamic functional connectivity variability in the thalamocortical circuit: Insights from Self-Limited Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes (SeLECTs)","authors":"Ahmed Ameen Fateh , Abla Smahi , Muhammad Hassan , Cristina Cañete-Massé , Adam A.Q. Mohammed , Feng Yue , Zhanqi Hu , Hongwu Zeng","doi":"10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2025.107665","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Self-Limited Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes (SeLECTs) is a dominant childhood epilepsy form characterized by seizures originating from the brain’s centrotemporal region. Crucially, unlocking the neural dynamics and mechanisms underlying SeLECTs paves the way for potent diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Our work investigates dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) variability in the thalamocortical circuit in SeLECTs individuals, thereby shedding light on the temporal dynamics and anomaly in connectivity patterns tied to seizure occurrence and propagation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Utilizing resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from 45 SeLECTs patients and 55 healthy controls (HCs), dynamic changes in functional connectivity (FC) across various brain regions were examined over time. We selected 16 thalamic seeds to delve into dFC variability using a sliding window approach. We also evaluated clinical data from both groups to discern its correlation with dFC variability. As a final step, a Support Vector Machine (SVM) was employed for classification analysis to demonstrate the potential use of dFC variability as a distinguishing feature between SeLECTs patients and HCs.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>t-test analysis manifested significant variances in dFC variability between SeLECTs and HCs groups related to thalamus seeds, also showing a correlation between VCI and certain areas. Out of 16 thalamus seeds, significant variances emerged in 9 seeds. Specifically, an increase in dFC variability was observed between the right occipital thalamus seed and the right precentral gyrus in SeLECTs patients, implying a positive connectivity alteration. On the other hand, a lowered dFC was observed between the right inferior prefrontal thalamus seed and the left cuneus, reflecting a reduction in their connectivity strength.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our study underscores the significance of dFC variability within the thalamocortical circuit in SeLECTs individuals. The noticeable aberrant connectivity patterns enrich our understanding of temporal dynamics linked to SeLECTs seizure occurrence and propagation, thereby contributing to understanding SeLECTs pathophysiology. These insights may steer the development of precise diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for this widespread childhood epilepsy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11914,"journal":{"name":"Epilepsy Research","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 107665"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Epilepsy Research","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0920121125001664","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"CLINICAL NEUROLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Self-Limited Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes (SeLECTs) is a dominant childhood epilepsy form characterized by seizures originating from the brain’s centrotemporal region. Crucially, unlocking the neural dynamics and mechanisms underlying SeLECTs paves the way for potent diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Our work investigates dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) variability in the thalamocortical circuit in SeLECTs individuals, thereby shedding light on the temporal dynamics and anomaly in connectivity patterns tied to seizure occurrence and propagation.
Methods
Utilizing resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from 45 SeLECTs patients and 55 healthy controls (HCs), dynamic changes in functional connectivity (FC) across various brain regions were examined over time. We selected 16 thalamic seeds to delve into dFC variability using a sliding window approach. We also evaluated clinical data from both groups to discern its correlation with dFC variability. As a final step, a Support Vector Machine (SVM) was employed for classification analysis to demonstrate the potential use of dFC variability as a distinguishing feature between SeLECTs patients and HCs.
Results
t-test analysis manifested significant variances in dFC variability between SeLECTs and HCs groups related to thalamus seeds, also showing a correlation between VCI and certain areas. Out of 16 thalamus seeds, significant variances emerged in 9 seeds. Specifically, an increase in dFC variability was observed between the right occipital thalamus seed and the right precentral gyrus in SeLECTs patients, implying a positive connectivity alteration. On the other hand, a lowered dFC was observed between the right inferior prefrontal thalamus seed and the left cuneus, reflecting a reduction in their connectivity strength.
Conclusion
Our study underscores the significance of dFC variability within the thalamocortical circuit in SeLECTs individuals. The noticeable aberrant connectivity patterns enrich our understanding of temporal dynamics linked to SeLECTs seizure occurrence and propagation, thereby contributing to understanding SeLECTs pathophysiology. These insights may steer the development of precise diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for this widespread childhood epilepsy.
期刊介绍:
Epilepsy Research provides for publication of high quality articles in both basic and clinical epilepsy research, with a special emphasis on translational research that ultimately relates to epilepsy as a human condition. The journal is intended to provide a forum for reporting the best and most rigorous epilepsy research from all disciplines ranging from biophysics and molecular biology to epidemiological and psychosocial research. As such the journal will publish original papers relevant to epilepsy from any scientific discipline and also studies of a multidisciplinary nature. Clinical and experimental research papers adopting fresh conceptual approaches to the study of epilepsy and its treatment are encouraged. The overriding criteria for publication are novelty, significant clinical or experimental relevance, and interest to a multidisciplinary audience in the broad arena of epilepsy. Review articles focused on any topic of epilepsy research will also be considered, but only if they present an exceptionally clear synthesis of current knowledge and future directions of a research area, based on a critical assessment of the available data or on hypotheses that are likely to stimulate more critical thinking and further advances in an area of epilepsy research.