Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42690343›Full record

ArticleNeuroradiology2026

Volumetric and functional connectivity alterations of the thalamus and thalamic nuclei groups in drug-resistant focal epilepsy: A 7T MRI study.

Daniel Uher, Lars H M J Vermeer, Jacobus F A Jansen, Stefanie Chambers, Paul A M Hofman, Louis G Wagner, Rick H G J Lanen, Guido Widman, Roy A M Haast, Christianne M Hoeberigs and 4 more

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Article in Neuroradiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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14 authors.

Daniel UherDepartment Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Lars H M J VermeerDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
Jacobus F A JansenMental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
Stefanie ChambersDepartment of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6420-1154
Paul A M HofmanDepartment of Radiology, Horatio Oduber Hospital, Oranjestad, Aruba.
Louis G WagnerAcademic Center for Epileptology, Kempenhaeghe, Heeze, Netherlands.
Rick H G J LanenMental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6557-9127
Guido WidmanDepartment of Epileptology and Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Roy A M HaastCenter for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8543-2467
Christianne M HoeberigsDepartment of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4274-170X
Albert J ColonAcademic Center for Epileptology, Kempenhaeghe, Heeze, Netherlands.
Olaf E M G SchijnsAcademic Center for Epileptology, Kempenhaeghe, Heeze, Netherlands.
Walter H BackesMental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
Gerhard S DrenthenMental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands. g.drenthen@maastrichtuniversity.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7708-8501

Funding

Epilepsiefonds 2020-09
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThrough its global and extensive connections with multiple brain structures, the thalamus can play an important role in seizure propagation. This study investigated volumetric and functional connectivity alterations of the thalamus and more specifically the thalamic nuclei subgroups using 7T MRI in patients with MRI-negative drug-resistant focal epilepsy (DRE).

methodsTwenty-nine patients with MRI-negative DRE and 49 healthy controls underwent 7T MRI, including T1-weighted and resting-state functional MRI sequences. Thalamic nuclei segmentations were derived using automated segmentation tools and split into anterior (ANT), medial, ventral, and posterior nuclei groups. Functional connectivity with the rest of the brain was assessed using degree centrality (DC). Linear regression models evaluated group differences and relationships with epilepsy characteristics while controlling for age and sex. Asymmetry indices assessed the ipsi- vs. contralateral differences in the patient cohort.

resultsPatients showed decreased bilateral medial and increased bilateral ventral relative volumes, alongside a right-sided ANT volume increase, compared with controls. DC was increased in the left posterior and ventral nuclei. Both volume and DC in the medial, ventral, and whole-thalamic ROIs were related to epilepsy duration, while ventral and whole-thalamic DC asymmetry distinguished patients by seizure type and seizure duration.

conclusionsBoth structural and functional alterations of the thalamic nuclei groups in patients with DRE were observed. Ventral, medial, and posterior nuclei metrics show promise as imaging biomarkers of disease burden and seizure severity, thus encouraging further research into both structural and functional properties of thalamic nuclei in focal epilepsy.

Indexed as

7TMRIMRI-negative focal epilepsyThalamic nucleiThalamusUltra-high field

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.