Mapping Brain Networks To Guide Stimulation in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Mayo Clinic researchers have created a detailed map of the pulvinar, a deep brain region, that could help doctors more precisely target brain stimulation therapies for people with drug-resistant epilepsy, the clinic announced. The findings, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, reveal that brain regions separated by only a few millimeters connect to entirely different brain networks. The discovery provides a blueprint for placing electrodes more precisely during deep brain stimulation, an emerging treatment for epilepsy. Researchers studied 30 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who already had temporary electrodes implanted as part of their clinical care. By delivering small electrical pulses to different parts of the pulvinar and measuring the brain's responses, the team created a map showing how this largely unexplored region communicates with the rest of the brain. The pulvinar is part of the thalamus, a deep brain structure that relays and coordinates information from sight, sound, touch and other senses. Brain regions separated by as little as 3 millimeters connected to completely different brain networks involved in vision, memory, language and attention. The findings have immediate relevance for clinical care and build upon ongoing research to develop personalized treatment. Researchers are now investigating which parts of the pulvinar should be stimulated and at what frequencies to better control seizures while minimizing side effects.