Frequency-specific alterations in the amplitude and synchronization of resting-state spontaneous low-frequency oscillations in benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes

Abstract

ObjectivesSpontaneous low-frequency oscillations in different frequency bands have diverse physiological meanings. The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and functional connectivity (FC) in different frequency bands in Benign Childhood Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes (BECTS) are unknown and worth exploring. MethodResting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected in 51 drug-naïve BECTS patients and 76 healthy controls. The ALFF was calculated for the typical (0.01 – 0.08 Hz), slow-5 (0.01–0.027 Hz), slow-4 (0.027–0.073 Hz), and slow-3 (0.073–0.198 Hz) frequency bands. The bilateral precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex (PCU/PCC) showed a common alteration of ALFF in different frequency bands, and was selected as the seed for calculating FC per voxel. ResultsIn the typical band, BECTS patients showed increased ALFF in the left rolandic operculum and the right pre/postcentral gyrus, and decreased ALFF in the bilateral PCU/PCC, some of which were shared by the slow-5, slow-4, and slow-3 bands. Decreased ALFF in the left angular gyrus was also found in the slow-3 band. Only the bilateral PCU/PCC showed a frequency-dependent correlation with the total seizure frequency and full-scale intelligence quotient. Regions having degenerated FC with the bilateral PCU/PCC in BECTS patients were mainly in the left prefrontal cortex and bilateral anterior cingulate cortex for the typical and slow-5 bands, and in the bilateral temporal limbic system and striatum for the slow-4 and slow-3 bands. ConclusionAlteration of the ALFF and FC differed with distinct frequency bands. Therefore, employing different frequency bands would provide more meaningful findings for BECTS patients.