Language and Motor fMRI Activation in Polymicrogyric Cortex

Araujo, David
de Araujo, Draulio B.
Pontes-Neto, Octavio M.
Escorsi-Rosset, Sara
Simao, Gustavo N.
Wichert-Ana, Lauro
Velasco, Tonicarlo R.
Sakamoto, Americo C.
Leite, Joao P.
Santos, Antonio C.

^*Department of Neurology–FMRP, University of São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
†Department of Physics–FFCLRP, University of São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
‡Department of Internal Medicine–FMRP, University of São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. A.C. Santos at Department of Internal Medicine, Radiology Center, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, 14051-140 Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted October 16, 2005.

Epilepsia 47(3):p 589-592, March 2006.

Summary

Purpose

To analyze the patterns of brain activation in polymicrogyric cortex in epilepsy patients by blood oxygenation level–dependent (BOLD) functional MRI (fMRI), during language and motor activation tasks.

Methods

Five patients with extratemporal epilepsy associated with polymicrogyria were scanned in a 1.5-T Siemens scanner with BOLD fMRI sequences, by following language and motor paradigms. Functional images were processed by using Brain Voyager software.

Results

Activation of polymicrogyric cortex in the brain area that corresponds to the motor strip was present in all patients. Language studies revealed activation of polymicrogyric cortex over Broca's area in three cases.

Conclusions

Functionality was shown in polymicrogyric areas. Therefore if surgical resection is indicated, a careful functional planning is necessary because of functionality of the polymicrogyric cortex.