Investigate the correlation between resting-state functional connectivity and EEG spikes with drug-induced epilepsy

Motivation: Electroencephalography (EEG) and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) are both critical tools for investigating epilepsy, and their combination will further reveal meaningful insights. Goal(s): This study investigates the correlation between EEG spikes and functional connectivity in a drug-induced epileptic small-animal model. Approach: An epileptic animal model was employed by injecting pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) through intraperitoneal to trigger acute epileptic-like abnormal neuron discharges, and EEG and rs-fMRI data were acquired seperately. Results: This study integrated longitudinal rs-fMRI monitoring and EEG recordings in the same epilepsy animal model to assess drug-induced epileptic signals, showing and increase of both EEG spike numbers and C.C. after inducing epilepsy drug. Impact: This study demonstrate the potential of brain region-to-region connectivity becoming a new bio marker of epilepsy diagnosis. However, greater precision and repeatablility of fMRI measurements is required for future studies to accurately align fMRI data with the electrophysiological data.