Objective: To evaluate the cortico-cortical evoked potential (CCEP) in exploring the network in epileptics.
Methods: Two patients with intractable epilepsy underwent chronic intracranial electrode placement. According to the distribution of icta onset zones and the functional brain mapping, alternating 1 Hz electrical stimuli were delivered to the target electrodes. And CCEPs were recorded by averaging electrocorticograms time-locked to stimuli from subdural electrodes. Then icta onset zones, eloquent areas identified by electrical cortical mapping and CCEP distributions were compared.
Results: Typical CCEP responses were observed. The data of one patient was useful for investigating the connectivity associated with various brain networks while another patient was useful for evaluating the cortical excitability.
Conclusion: The exploration of epileptic network is achieved through cortico-cortical evoked potential by investigating the connectivity associated with various brain networks and cortical excitability.