Unraveling Thalamic Network Dysfunction in Poststroke Epilepsy Through EEG Source Analysis.

IJGPR.COM, 2025, Volume -1, Issue -1, Page 47-52

Dr. Alka Lamba, Associate Professor, Department of General Medicine, PMCH-Patna (with Corresponding Author)

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Abstract:

This study investigated alterations in the intrinsic thalamic network in poststroke epilepsy (PSE) using electroencephalography (EEG) source-level analysis. A retrospective observational study, following STROBE guidelines, enrolled 39 PSE patients and 34 stroke patients without epilepsy. Resting-state EEG data underwent source localization using minimum norm imaging and standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA). Thalamic network functional connectivity was assessed using coherence, with nodes defined by the Talairach atlas. Graph theory analysis compared network properties between groups. EEG source-level analysis revealed significant differences in thalamic network connectivity between PSE and non-PSE patients. Specifically, modularity, a measure of network segregation, was significantly lower in PSE patients (0.038 vs. 0.106, p = 0.024) in the undirected weighted connectivity matrix. Similar differences were observed using binary undirected graphs across a fixed density range. This study demonstrates altered intrinsic thalamic network organization in PSE patients compared to stroke patients without epilepsy, as revealed by EEG source-level analysis. These network changes may contribute to PSE development. Keywords: electroencephalography, epilepsy, stroke, thalamus, poststroke epilepsy.