Thalamic neural activity and epileptic network analysis using stereoelectroencephalography: a prospective study protocol.

Journal: BMJ open
Published Date: Jun 10, 2025

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy is a prevalent chronic neurological disorder, with approximately one-third of patients experiencing intractable epilepsy, often necessitating surgical intervention. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the thalamus has been introduced as a palliative surgical option for seizure control; however, its precise mechanisms remain largely unclear. The thalamus plays a crucial role in coordinating neural networks, both in normal brain function and the propagation of epileptic activity. This study aims to investigate the involvement of the thalamus in epilepsy networks using stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) to monitor thalamic activity during epileptic seizures in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Authors

  • Tomotaka Ishizaki
    Department of Neurosurgery, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan ishizaki.tomotaka.d8@f.mail.nagoya-u.ac.jp.
  • Satoshi Maesawa
    Department of Neurosurgery, National Health Organization, Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
  • Shun Yamamoto
    Department of Neurosurgery, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
  • Takahiro Suzuki
  • Miki Hashida
    Department of Neurosurgery, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
  • Yoshiki Ito
    Department of Neurosurgery, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
  • Takafumi Tanei
    Department of Neurosurgery, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
  • Ryuta Saito
    Department of Neurology (S.N., T.M., Y.T., K.T., N.Y., H.K., M.A.), Department of Multiple Sclerosis Therapeutics (T.M.), Department of Neurosurgery (R.S., T.T.), and Department of Pathology (M.W.), Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai; Department of Anatomic Pathology (Y.S.-H.), Tokyo Medical University; Department of Virology 1 (K.N., M.S.), Laboratory of Neurovirology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases; Department of Neurology (I.N.), Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai; and Department of Multiple Sclerosis Therapeutics (K.F.), Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine and Multiple Sclerosis and Neuromyelitis Optica Center, Southern TOHOKU Research Institute for Neuroscience, Japan.

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