Altered Structural Connectivity and Network Organization in Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Matthew DeSalvo¹, Linda Douw¹, Naoaki Tanaka¹, Claus Reinsberger¹, Steven M. Stufflebeam¹

In this study, we combined high resolution structural MRI with diffusion tensor imaging to study changes in whole-brain structural connectivity and network organization in unilateral mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Using a graph theoretical approach, we observed increased local connectivity in the ipsilateral temporal lobe as well as widespread bilateral changes in connectivity principally among areas of the default mode network. We hypothesize that these changes in connectivity are due to epileptic activity and relate to certain cognitive and psychiatric symptoms in this condition. We believe that this method will provide a useful tool for diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic monitoring.