TFE25-433
Intracranial measurements of local field potentials in epilepsy patients
Max student :
1 or 2
Promoters:
Laurence Dricot et Nicolas Delinte
Description:
Intracranial measurements of local field potentials in epilepsy patients
Some patients suffering from refractory epilepsy that cannot be treated by classical therapies undergo brain surgery for the implantation of depth electrodes for the recording of electrophysiological markers of epileptic activity. These patients receive about 10 to 14 electrodes which are implanted in various brain areas that are suspected to be part in the propagation of the epileptic crises. Typically, these patients stay at the hospital for about one week during which intracranial EEG is monitored constantly. These patients also allow to measure local field potentials (LFPs) in response to various sensory and cognitive tests. In brief, we are conducting psychophysical tests in epileptic patients while recording brain activity through the implanted electrodes Since each electrode has 10 to 12 contacts, this provides us an enormous amount of data. At the same time, we are also recording fMRI data in these patients (before they get the electrodes implanted in the brain) while they are submitted to the same psychophysical tests. The aim of the project is to write script to streamline and automate the analysis of the recorded data, apply tools for the automatic detection of abnormal (epileptic) activity, and to develop tools for comparing the intracranial EEG data with the fMRI data. The candidate should have excellent computational skills, have an interest in the human brain and be motivated to work in a medical context.
Figure: Intracranial recording of neuronal activity in epilepsy patient with depth recording electrodes implanted in his brain for detection of the epilepsy onset zone.