The impact of interictal epileptic discharges on ongoing brain activity

Background: A brain network comprising precuneus, medial frontal and temporo-parietal cortex is overall more active during conscious rest than during goal-directed behavior but also than during states of reduced consciousness. These areas have been proposed to underpin a „default mode“ of brain function, and we have already shown their activity to decrease during generalized spike and wave discharges in absence epilepsy. We investigated whether there is a common association between interictal discharges (ID) and deactivation of „default mode“ brain regions in focal epilepsy. Methods: Using continuous electroence…