Epilepsy research

1872-68441662020OctEpilepsy researchEpilepsy ResSubacute neocortical stimulation (SNCS) and its effects on epileptic activity in adults and children diagnosed with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD).10639210639210.1016/j.eplepsyres.2020.106392S0920-1211(20)30205-9Chronic intracranial electrical stimulation is now widely used as treatment for drug resistant epilepsy. Subacute neocortical stimulation (SNCS) can also be performed during EEG recordings with intracranial electrodes (iEEG), but its diagnostic value remains largely unknown.We assessed the effects of SNCS on the frequency of seizures and epileptiform discharges (EDs) during 290 h of iEEG- from 12 patients (6 adults, 6 children) with epilepsy secondary to focal cortical dysplasia (FCD).In 9/12 patients, SNCS periods showed decreased seizure-frequency (Median -73 %, p = 0.0093). At baseline, incidence of EDs were correlated with seizure-frequency (Spearman r = 0.59). However, this correlation disappeared during SNCS and a significant change in the incidence of EDs was observed. In addition, there was a trend towards greater reduction in seizure-frequency during SNCS in patients who underwent surgery.In summary, SNCS can reduce seizure-frequency and changes ED-frequency. The variability in ED changes may be explained by different effects of SNCS depending on electrode location. The magnitude of seizure reduction during SNCS suggests that this technique could contribute to preoperative assessment in epilepsy surgery.Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.FreigangSaschaSDepartment of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience London, UK; Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University Graz, Austria. Electronic address: sascha.freigang@medunigraz.at.Jiménez-JiménezDiegoDDepartment of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience London, UK; Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, King's College Hospital NHS FT, London, UK; Universidad San Francisco De Quito, School of Medicine, Quito, Ecuador; National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, UK; The Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter, UK.KaziFarhanaFDepartment of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience London, UK; Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar.Díaz-DíazJuditJDepartment of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience London, UK.PinaMarisaMDepartment of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience London, UK.CunhaMariaMDepartment of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience London, UK.AlarcónGonzaloGDepartment of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience London, UK; Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK; Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar.SelwayRichard PRPDepartment of Neurosurgery, King's College Hospital NHS FT, London, UK.ValentínAntonioADepartment of Basic & Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience London, UK; Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, King's College Hospital NHS FT, London, UK.engJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't20200608