Motor cortical organization in an adult with hemimegalencephaly and late onset epilepsy

Neurosci Lett. 2009 Aug 28;460(2):126-9. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.05.030. Epub 2009 May 18.

Abstract

Hemimegalencephaly is a rare brain malformation whose physiology is largely obscure. In a single patient, we studied motor cortex using several transcranial magnetic stimulation variables testing cortical excitability, and mapping motor area. The megalencephalic hemisphere showed an enlargement of cortical motor map with abnormal axonal orientation and an excess spread of corticospinal excitation, associated with multiple defects of cortical inhibition. TMS gave new information on the anatomic/functional features and epileptogenesis in this complex and physiologically obscure syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Mapping
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Epilepsy / complications
  • Epilepsy / pathology*
  • Evoked Potentials, Motor / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Malformations of Cortical Development / complications
  • Malformations of Cortical Development / pathology*
  • Motor Cortex / pathology*
  • Motor Cortex / physiopathology*
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / methods