Ursula I. Tuor1, Jennifer Vuong2,
Jeffrey F. Dunn3, Tadeusz Foniok1, Dave Kirk4,
Amy H. Henderson2, G
1Institute for Biodiagnostics (West),
National Research Council of Canada , Calgary, Alberta, Canada; 2Psychology,
University of Calgary; 3Radiology, University of Calgary; 4Experimental
Imaging Centre, University of Calgary; 5Anatomy and Cell Biology,
University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
We
used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in rats to investigate
whether following 20 repeatedly elicited seizures there are seizure-induced
alterations in the somatosensory maps to forepaw stimulation. We observed increased areas of activation
both acutely (1-3 days) and chronically (3-5 weeks) after experimental
kindling induced epilepsy. The data
indicate that there is considerable neuroplasticity and development of new
pathways during the progression of epilepsy. Whether comparable plasticity of
cortical maps is present in humans should be tested using fMRI in future
studies, considering that such seizure-induced changes may be involved in
producing interictal behavioural disturbances.