Editorial: Functional Brain Mapping of Epilepsy Networks: Methods and Applications.

David F. Abbott,Graeme D. Jackson,John S. Archer,Patrick W. Carney,David N. Vaughan

doi:10.3389/fnins.2019.00417

Abstract

This multidisciplinary Research Topic is a collection of contemporary advances in neuroimaging applied to mapping functional brain networks in epilepsy. With technology such as simultaneous electroencephalography and functional magnetic resonance imaging (EEG-fMRI) now more readily available, it is possible to non-invasively map epileptiform activity throughout the entire brain at millimeter resolution. This Research Topic includes original research studies, technical notes and reviews of the field. Due to the multidisciplinary nature of the domain, the Research Topic spans two journals: Frontiers in Neurology (Section: Epilepsy) and Frontiers in Neuroscience (Section: Brain Imaging Methods). In this editorial we consider the outcomes of the multidisciplinary work presented in the Research Topic. With the benefit of time elapsed since the original papers were published, we can see that the works are making a substantial impact in the field. At the time of writing, this Research Topic had well over 28,000 full-paper downloads (including over 18,500 for the 15 papers in the Epilepsy section, and over 9,500 for the 8 papers in the Brain Imaging Methods section). Several papers in the Research Topic have climbed the tier in Frontiers and received an associated invited commentary, demonstrating there is substantial interest in this research area.

Highlights

This multidisciplinary Research Topic is a collection of contemporary advances in neuroimaging applied to mapping functional brain networks in epilepsy
Functional imaging evidence of brain abnormalities in temporal lobe epilepsy is explored in Caciagli et al, including evidence of dysfunction in limbic and other specific brain networks, as well as global changes in network topography derived from resting-state fMRI
The clinical significance of the ability to non-invasively study functional brain networks extends to understanding the impact of surgery on brain networks. This Frontiers Research Topic includes an investigation by Doucet and colleagues revealing that temporal lobe epilepsy and surgery selectively alter the dorsal, rather than the ventral, default-mode network (Doucet et al.)

Summary

Introduction

Functional Brain Mapping of Epilepsy Networks: Methods and Applications This multidisciplinary Research Topic is a collection of contemporary advances in neuroimaging applied to mapping functional brain networks in epilepsy. With technology such as simultaneous electroencephalography and functional magnetic resonance imaging (EEG-fMRI) more readily available, it is possible to non-invasively map epileptiform activity throughout the entire brain at millimeter resolution.

Results

Conclusion