Intracranial EEG

For patients with drug resistent epilepsy, epilepsy surgery (removing the brain area responsible for generating seizures) is the most effective treatment. However, surgery is only possible when we can clearly identify that the seizures start in a single area in the brain (the “epileptogenic zone”) and confirm that this area does not control essential functions such as movement, language, or vision.

To determine whether a patient is a good candidate for surgery, a comprehensive presurgical evaluation is performed. This includes long-term video-EEG monitoring with scalp electrodes, during which seizures are recorded to identify where they begin in the brain. Additional tests, such as structural and functional brain imaging, are also often performed. In more complex cases, intracranial EEG may be required, with electrodes placed directly on or within the brain to pinpoint seizure onset more precisely.

Despite these extensive evaluations, epilepsy surgery is not always successful: about one in three patients continues to have seizures after surgery. This might suggest that the epileptogenic zone was not fully identified or not completely removed.

At 4BRAIN, my research focuses on advanced analysis of both scalp and intracranial EEG to improve the localization of the epileptogenic zone. I combine visual interpretation of the EEG with Artificial Intelligence–based methods. This way, I aim to improve surgical outcomes and help more patients become seizure-free.