EEG-fMRI in myoclonic astatic epilepsy (Doose syndrome).

Objective: To identify neuronal networks underlying generalized spike and wave discharges (GSW) in myoclonic astatic epilepsy (MAE).

Methods: Simultaneous EEG-fMRI recordings were performed in 13 children with MAE. Individual GSW-associated blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal changes were analyzed in every patient. A group analysis was performed to determine common syndrome-specific hemodynamic changes across all patients.

Results: GSW were recorded in 11 patients, all showing GSW-associated BOLD signal changes. Activation was detected in the thalamus (all patients), premotor cortex (6 patients), and putamen (6 patients). Deactivation was found in the default mode areas (7 patients). The group analysis confirmed activations in the thalamus, premotor cortex, putamen, and cerebellum and deactivations in the default mode network.

Conclusions: In addition to the thalamocortical network, which is commonly found in idiopathic generalized epilepsies, GSW in patients with MAE are characterized by BOLD signal changes in brain structures associated with motor function. The results are in line with animal studies demonstrating that somatosensory cortex, putamen, and cerebellum are involved in the generation of myoclonic seizures. The involvement of these structures might predispose to the typical seizure semiology of myoclonic jerks observed in MAE.