Altered Functional Specialization in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Abstract

Temporal epileptogenic network has been extensively characterized in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). How epilepsy networks supporting the pathological mechanisms interact with each other via within- and across-hemisphere connections remains unclear. Here, resting state functional network specialization, depicting the degree to which brain networks preferentially connect with ipsilateral as opposed to contralateral networks, was examined in 90 TLE patients and 90 age- and education-matched healthy controls. We found decreased functional specialization in the default network and fronto-parietal network but increased functional specialization in the somatomotor network in patients with TLE. Altered functional network co-operation was further observed in the network with abnormal functional specialization. The results indicated that the altered functional specialization emphasizing the specific processing functions within hemisphere may be particularly important for seizure attack in TLE.