Ren M.H. Besseling1,
Jacobus Jansen2, Geke Overvliet3, Sylvie J. van der
Kruijs4, Johannes Vles3, Saskia Ebus4, Paul
A.M. Hofman2, Anton de Louw4, Albert P. Aldenkamp4,
Walter H. Backes2
1Radiology,
Maastricht University, Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands; 2Radiology,
Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands; 3Neurology,
Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands; 4Epilepsy
Centre Kempenhaeghe, Heeze, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
Rolandic epilepsy (RE) has been associated with language impairment, the cerebral mechanism of which is unknown. Independent component analysis of resting-state fMRI data was used to identify the functional network involving the pre- and postcentral gyri, i.e. the rolandic cortex (from which the seizures originate). Compared to controls, this network showed reduced connectivity with the left inferior frontal gyrus in a region of interest defined from word-generation task fMRI (p=0.011). This represents an abnormality in a functional network involving the rolandic cortex which provides a substrate for language impairment in RE.