Diffusion tensor imaging reveals altered structural connectivity of the mesial frontal lobe in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Rationale: Juvenile myoclof thnic epilepsy is the most common idiopathic generalized epilepsy in adults, characterized by myoclonic jerks, often provoked by cognitive stressors. Recently functional MRI (fMRI) showed increased functional connectivity between the motor system and higher cognitive networks. It is still unclear if this is a purely functional effect, or if there are underlying structural changes, facilitating this mechanism. Methods: We acquired brain diffusion tensor images in 28 patients with JME and 28 healthy controls on a GE Signa HDx 3T MRI scanner (2×2×2.4mm, 60 slices, 52 diffusion weighted d…