Somatosensory phenomena elicited by electrical stimulation of hippocampus: Insight into the ictal network

ABSTRACT: Up to 11% of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy experience somatosensory auras, although these structures do not have any somatosensory physiological representation. We present the case of a patient with left mesial temporal lobe epilepsy who had somatosensory auras on the right side of the body. Stereo-EEG recording demonstrated seizure onset in the left mesial temporal structures, with propagation to the sensory cortices, when the patient experienced the somatosensory aura. Direct electrical stimulation of both the left amygdala and the hippocampus elicited the patient's habitual, somatosensory aura, with afterdischarges propagating to sensory cortices. These unusual responses to cortical stimulation suggest that in patients with epilepsy, aberrant neural networks are established, which have an essential role in ictogenesis. Highlights • Patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy may experience somatosensory auras.• Seizure activity propagated from mesial temporal structures to the sensory cortices.• Stimulation in the amygdala and hippocampus elicited habitual somatosensory aura.• We recorded afterdischarges propagating to insula and posterior cingulate contacts.

SUBMITTER: Vinding Merinder T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7501419 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature