Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Phenomena and Neuroimaging Techniques
Summary
Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a common focal epilepsy syndrome characterised by seizures and a spectrum of subjective auras, including déjà vu, sensory distortions and affective disturbances. Underlying pathology often involves hippocampal sclerosis or structural changes in neighbouring limbic structures such as the amygdala. Neuroimaging has become indispensable for elucidating these phenomena, employing high-resolution T1-weighted MRI for volumetric assessment, voxel-based morphometry to detect subtle grey matter alterations, FDG-PET for metabolic mapping and functional MRI for network connectivity analysis. Recent advances in ultra-high-field imaging and subnuclear parcellation techniques have enabled precise mapping of amygdala nuclei, revealing distinct morphometric patterns in hippocampal versus MRI-negative TLE. By integrating structural, metabolic and functional data, clinicians can better classify TLE subtypes, guide surgical planning and predict treatment response. These developments not only enhance our understanding of seizure generation and spread but also foster the identification of non-invasive biomarkers with global significance for personalised management and improved long-term outcomes.
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Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Phenomena and Neuroimaging Techniques publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in temporal lobe epilepsy phenomena and neuroimaging techniques across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE): A subtype of TLE originating in medial temporal structures, such as the hippocampus and amygdala.
Hippocampal sclerosis: Neuronal loss and gliosis within the hippocampus, often visible as atrophy on MRI.
Amygdala enlargement: Increased volume of the amygdala detected via structural MRI, indicative of a TLE subtype.
Voxel-based morphometry (VBM): A neuroimaging analysis technique that measures local differences in brain tissue composition.
T1-weighted imaging: An MRI sequence providing high-resolution anatomical detail for volumetric assessments.
Ictal: Referring to the period during an epileptic seizure.
Interictal: Referring to the interval between epileptic seizures.
References
- Temporal lobe epilepsy with amygdala enlargement: a subtype of temporal lobe epilepsy. BMC Neurology (2014).
- Amygdala subnuclear volumes in temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis and in non-lesional patients. Brain Communications (2022).
- Non-ictal, interictal and ictal déjà vu: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Neurology (2024).
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