Abnormal parieto-motor connectivity in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Received 24 March 2009; received in revised form 19 June 2009; accepted 24 July 2009.

Summary

Abnormal connectivity might be involved in the pathophysiology of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC). We used twin-coil Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation protocol to investigate connectivity between posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and motor cortex (M1) in TSC patients. In comparison with healthy subjects and TSC patients treated with antiepileptic drugs, non-medicated TSC patients exhibited abnormal excitability of PPC–M1 connection. Such altered connectivity might play a role in TSC epileptic phenotype.

Keywords: Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Functional cortical connectivity

a Paediatric Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Neuroscience Department, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy

b Neurology Clinic, Neuroscience Department, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy

c IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy

Corresponding author at: Paediatric Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Neuroscience Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, via Montpellier, 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. Tel.: +39 06 20900249.

PII: S0920-1211(09)00202-2

doi:10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2009.07.009

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