Does the region of epileptogenicity influence the pattern of change in cortical excitability?

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether cortical excitability measures on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) differed between groups of patients with different focal epilepsy syndromes. Methods: 85 Patients with focal epilepsy syndromes divided into temporal and extra-temporal lobe epilepsy were studied. The cohorts were further divided into drug naïve-new onset, refractory and seizure free groups. Motor threshold (MT) and paired pulse TMS at short (2, 5, 10, 15. ms) and long (100-300. ms) interstimulus intervals (ISIs) were measured. Results were compared to those of 20 controls. Results: Cortical excitability was higher at 2 & 5. ms and 250, 300. ms ISIs (p< 0.01) in focal epilepsy syndrome..