Altered Thalamocortical Functional Connectivity in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: Insights From Resting‐State fMRI.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Altered Thalamocortical Functional Connectivity in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: Insights From Resting‐State fMRI.
Authors: Liu, Tinghong (AUTHOR), Qiao, Yang (AUTHOR), Ding, Ping (AUTHOR), Liu, Bing (AUTHOR), Zhang, Shaohui (AUTHOR), Cui, Jianfei (AUTHOR), Zang, Yufeng (AUTHOR), Liang, Shuli (AUTHOR), Liampas, Ioannis (AUTHOR)
Source: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. 8/22/2025, Vol. 2025, p1-10. 10p.
Subjects: Tuberous sclerosis, Epilepsy, Functional magnetic resonance imaging, Functional connectivity, Seizures (Medicine), Brain imaging, Thalamocortical system
Abstract: Background: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder commonly associated with drug‐resistant epilepsy. Although epileptogenic tubers (ETs) can be localized in 60% of TSC patients, approximately 40% remain undetectable despite comprehensive multimodal evaluations. The functional network mechanisms underlying seizure generation and propagation in patients with TSC are poorly understood. Methods: Resting‐state fMRI (rs‐fMRI) data from 10 surgically treated patients with TSC (postoperative seizure freedom for ≥ 3 years) and 10 age‐matched healthy controls were analyzed. Functional connectivity (FC) between four thalamic subregions—mediodorsal thalamus (MDT), anterior thalamic nucleus (ANT), centromedian thalamus (CMT), and pulvinar—and ETs, non‐ETs, or normal cortices was assessed. Secondary projection analysis mapped corticothalamic networks associated with ETs. Results: MDT‐ET connectivity was significantly reduced compared with MDT‐non‐ETs (p = 0.01) and MDT‐normal cortices in controls (p = 0.03). Secondary analysis identified hyperconnectivity between ET‐associated thalamic clusters and the left middle frontal gyrus (pGFR < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in other thalamic subregions. Conclusions: The selective reduction in MDT‐ET connectivity highlights disrupted thalamocortical synchronization as a key network mechanism in TSC‐related epilepsy. Enhanced left middle frontal gyrus–thalamic connectivity suggests compensatory cortical engagement within epileptogenic networks. These findings position rs‐fMRI as a critical tool for delineating network‐based biomarkers, advancing precision therapeutic strategies in TSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Acta Neurologica Scandinavica is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 187503006
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Altered Thalamocortical Functional Connectivity in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: Insights From Resting‐State fMRI.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Liu%2C+Tinghong%22&quot;&gt;Liu, Tinghong&lt;/searchLink&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Qiao%2C+Yang%22&quot;&gt;Qiao, Yang&lt;/searchLink&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Ding%2C+Ping%22&quot;&gt;Ding, Ping&lt;/searchLink&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Liu%2C+Bing%22&quot;&gt;Liu, Bing&lt;/searchLink&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Zhang%2C+Shaohui%22&quot;&gt;Zhang, Shaohui&lt;/searchLink&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Cui%2C+Jianfei%22&quot;&gt;Cui, Jianfei&lt;/searchLink&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Zang%2C+Yufeng%22&quot;&gt;Zang, Yufeng&lt;/searchLink&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Liang%2C+Shuli%22&quot;&gt;Liang, Shuli&lt;/searchLink&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Liampas%2C+Ioannis%22&quot;&gt;Liampas, Ioannis&lt;/searchLink&gt; (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;JN&quot; term=&quot;%22Acta+Neurologica+Scandinavica%22&quot;&gt;Acta Neurologica Scandinavica&lt;/searchLink&gt;. 8/22/2025, Vol. 2025, p1-10. 10p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Tuberous+sclerosis%22&quot;&gt;Tuberous sclerosis&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Epilepsy%22&quot;&gt;Epilepsy&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Functional+magnetic+resonance+imaging%22&quot;&gt;Functional magnetic resonance imaging&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Functional+connectivity%22&quot;&gt;Functional connectivity&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Seizures+%28Medicine%29%22&quot;&gt;Seizures (Medicine)&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Brain+imaging%22&quot;&gt;Brain imaging&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Thalamocortical+system%22&quot;&gt;Thalamocortical system&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder commonly associated with drug‐resistant epilepsy. Although epileptogenic tubers (ETs) can be localized in 60% of TSC patients, approximately 40% remain undetectable despite comprehensive multimodal evaluations. The functional network mechanisms underlying seizure generation and propagation in patients with TSC are poorly understood. Methods: Resting‐state fMRI (rs‐fMRI) data from 10 surgically treated patients with TSC (postoperative seizure freedom for ≥ 3 years) and 10 age‐matched healthy controls were analyzed. Functional connectivity (FC) between four thalamic subregions—mediodorsal thalamus (MDT), anterior thalamic nucleus (ANT), centromedian thalamus (CMT), and pulvinar—and ETs, non‐ETs, or normal cortices was assessed. Secondary projection analysis mapped corticothalamic networks associated with ETs. Results: MDT‐ET connectivity was significantly reduced compared with MDT‐non‐ETs (p = 0.01) and MDT‐normal cortices in controls (p = 0.03). Secondary analysis identified hyperconnectivity between ET‐associated thalamic clusters and the left middle frontal gyrus (pGFR &lt; 0.001). No significant differences were observed in other thalamic subregions. Conclusions: The selective reduction in MDT‐ET connectivity highlights disrupted thalamocortical synchronization as a key network mechanism in TSC‐related epilepsy. Enhanced left middle frontal gyrus–thalamic connectivity suggests compensatory cortical engagement within epileptogenic networks. These findings position rs‐fMRI as a critical tool for delineating network‐based biomarkers, advancing precision therapeutic strategies in TSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: &lt;i&gt;Copyright of Acta Neurologica Scandinavica is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder&#39;s express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.&lt;/i&gt; (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=187503006
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1155/ane/6953742
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 10
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Tuberous sclerosis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Epilepsy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Functional magnetic resonance imaging
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Functional connectivity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Seizures (Medicine)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Brain imaging
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thalamocortical system
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Altered Thalamocortical Functional Connectivity in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: Insights From Resting‐State fMRI.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Liu, Tinghong
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Qiao, Yang
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ding, Ping
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Liu, Bing
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhang, Shaohui
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Cui, Jianfei
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zang, Yufeng
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Liang, Shuli
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Liampas, Ioannis
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 22
              M: 08
              Text: 8/22/2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 00016314
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 2025
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
              Type: main
ResultId 1