Impact of Epileptic Discharge on the Structural Connectivity of the Developing Brain
Impact of Epileptic Discharge on the Structural Connectivity of the Developing Brain
Focal epilepsy is associated with widespread alterations in structural brain connectivity,
 often present at the disease onset and related to learning disabilities. Whether ongoing
 seizure activity contributes to network pathology is a matter of debate. This study intends
 to measure the impact of seizures on structural connectivity on a local and on a global
 level. In children examined with intracerebral electrodes to evaluate whether a surgical cure
 can be proposed, we combine intracerebral stereotactic electroencephalography (EEG)
 recordings with diffusion weighted imaging of white matter fibers. On the local level, the
 study will quantify the number of deficient connections in the seizure onset zone. On a
 global level, the study will compare the white matter fibers of the left and right hemisphere
 to probe whether physiological language lateralization is preserved.
Drug-resistant focal epilepsy is a debilitating disease as it is often accompanied by
 learning disabilities and behavioral disorders, that can be present at the disease onset and
 have ample repercussions on the child's quality of life.

 Despite a focal onset of seizures, the dysfunction of the cerebral networks is diffuse.
 Structural brain connectivity can be measured with diffusion tractography, which has shown
 evidence of widespread network pathology in focal epilepsy, probably explaining the
 associated learning disabilities. Whether ongoing seizure activity further modifies network
 wiring and possibly generates abnormal pathways along the routes of seizure propagation is a
 matter of debate.

 The study intends to probe the effect of seizures on cerebral connectivity, both on a local
 and on a global level. Children who undergo presurgical evaluation to probe whether their
 epilepsy can be cured by surgery are recorded with implanted intracerebral electrodes for
 clinical purposes. A diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging will be performed prior to
 implantation in order to relate tractography measures to seizure recordings. On the local
 level, intracerebral electroencephalogram (EEG) will be analysed to quantify the intensity of
 epileptic discharge (the epileptogenicity index) on each electrode contact. Loss of
 connectivity (or disconnections) is determined with diffusion tractography for each brain
 region. Then correlation between the degree of epileptogenicity and with the number of
 disconnections will be studied.

 On a global level, the study will quantify all white matter fibers within the language area
 (Broca's) in the left and the corresponding area in the right hemisphere. The difference
 between hemispheres yields us the lateralization index. The secondary outcome probes whether
 children with focal epilepsy have atypical language organization, as a measure of diffuse
 changes in brain wiring.
Inclusion Criteria:

 - Drug resistant focal epilepsy

 Inclusion Criteria for control patients:

 - without drug resistant focal epilepsy

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Severe mental retardation (IQ < 50)

 -  Lack of French-language skills

 -  Contraindications to MRI

 -  Bi-hemispherical epilepsy or affecting multiple lobes

 Exclusion Criteria for control patients:

 -  Severe mental retardation (IQ < 50)

 -  Lack of French-language skills

 -  Contraindications to MRI

 -  Congenital pathology altering cerebral connectivity

 -  Parenchymal brain lesions

 -  Unilateral or bilateral blindness

 -  Unilateral or bilateral deafness

 -  Autistic disorders