Localizing Epileptic Foci By Simultaneous Intracranial Stimulation And fMRI

A major form of epilepsy – focal epilepsy – is highly curable by surgical removal, if the correct portion of the brain can be identified. We propose a novel method to better identify this portion of the brain by using a unique combination of two cutting edge technologies: intracranial electrode implantation with “functional” MRI, within the operative environment. Never performed before, we anticipate this method will better identify the regions of the brain responsible for causing focal epilepsy, add a new technique available to our doctors, and improve surgical outcomes and benefit thousands of patients.