Purpose:
Researchers are interested in studying if magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is practical for
locating the areas of the brain associated with language in children with epilepsy.
When a region of the brain is active, it uses more fuel in the form of oxygen and sugar
(glucose). As the brain uses more fuel it produces more waste products, carbon dioxide and
water. Blood carries fuel to the brain and waste products away from the brain. As brain
activity increases blood flow to and from the area of activity increases also.
Patients participating in the study will be asked to perform tasks designed to test language
skills while undergoing an MRI to detect areas of the brain using oxygen and receiving blood
flow.
Study summary:
We propose to study the feasibility of utilizing MRI to perform functional mapping of
language cortex in children with epilepsy. We will use 1.5 Tesla MRI to study cerebral
blood flow and tissue oxygenation during cognitive activation tasks derived from previous
adult studies.
Criteria:
Children aged 5-17 years.
Partial epilepsy (localized).
Ability to cooperate with task paradigms (IQ greater than 65).
No cardiac pacemakers, cochlear implants, shrapnel, vascular clips, braces, or
claustrophobia.
No one with inability to cooperate with task paradigms.