Mapping Glutamate and Neural Fragility in Drug Refractory Pediatric Epilepsy using Ultrafast High Resolution MRSI

Motivation: Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent seizures driven by imbalance between excitation and inhibition (E/I) in the brain. Neural fragility, reflecting E/I imbalance, may be associated with increased glutamate levels, but non-invasive mapping of these neurotransmitters has been challenging. Goal(s): We hypothesize that glutamate level is associated with neural fragility, and we plan to explore whether molecular profiles can predict neural fragility non-invasively. Approach: High-resolution MRSI and SEEG data from pediatric epilepsy patients and healthy controls will be analyzed to map neurotransmitter distributions and correlate them with neural fragility. LASSO regression is used to identify important metabolic predictors of neural fragility. Impact: This study will unveil the underlying molecular mechanism behind neural fragility, the SEEG marker of E/I imbalance. Identification of non-invasive brain imaging markers of neural fragility could potentially enhance epilepsy diagnosis and presurgical planning.