EEG-fMRI Integration in Epileptic Network Analysis

Electroencephalography–functional MRI (EEG-fMRI) integration has emerged as a powerful approach to delineate the spatiotemporal dynamics of epileptic networks. By synchronously recording cortical electrical activity with EEG and the ensuing haemodynamic responses with fMRI, researchers can localise regions implicated in seizure generation and propagation with both high temporal and spatial precision. This combined modality enables the characterisation of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) in relation to blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) fluctuations, rendering it possible to map irritative zones, identify epileptogenic foci and predict postsurgical outcomes. Advances in signal processing and motion correction have enhanced data quality, overcoming earlier obstacles such as movement artefacts and low signal-to-noise ratios. Beyond localisation, integrated EEG-fMRI studies are increasingly applied to assess network connectivity, revealing how transient electrical events perturb resting-state circuits and alter functional integration across distributed brain regions. As such, this multimodal framework offers a window into both the mechanistic underpinnings of seizure emergence and the design of more targeted therapeutic interventions.

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EEG-fMRI Integration in Epileptic Network Analysis publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in eeg-fmri integration in epileptic network analysis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Electroencephalography–functional MRI (EEG-fMRI) Integration: Simultaneous acquisition of electrical brain activity (EEG) and haemodynamic responses (fMRI) to map the temporal and spatial characteristics of neural events.

Interictal Epileptiform Discharge (IED): Brief, abnormal electrical discharges occurring between seizures, used as markers for localising epileptogenic tissue.

Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent (BOLD) Signal: A measure of changes in deoxyhaemoglobin concentration reflecting regional neuronal activity in fMRI.

Epileptogenic Zone (EZ): The region of cortex indispensable for seizure generation, removal of which is necessary for achieving seizure freedom.

Functional Connectivity: Statistical association between neurophysiological signals from distinct brain regions, indicative of network integration or communication.

References

1. Mapping interictal discharges using intracranial EEG-fMRI to predict postsurgical outcomes. Brain (2024).
2. Camera-based Prospective Motion Correction in Paediatric Epilepsy Patients Enables EEG-fMRI Localization Even in High-motion States. Brain Topography (2023).
3. Network Connectivity in Epilepsy: Resting State fMRI and EEG–fMRI Contributions. Frontiers in Neurology (2014).
4. The spatio-temporal mapping of epileptic networks: Combination of EEG–fMRI and EEG source imaging. NeuroImage (2009).
5. Optimising EEG-fMRI for Localisation of Focal Epilepsy in Children. PLOS ONE (2016).