Machine learning identifies rsfMRI epilepsy networks in temporal lobe epilepsy

ObjectivesExperimental models have provided compelling evidence for the existence of neural networks in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). To identify and validate the possible existence of resting-state epilepsy networks, we used machine learning methods on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) data from 42 individuals with TLE.MethodsProbabilistic independent component analysis (PICA) was applied to rsfMRI data from 132 subjects (42 TLE patients +90 healthy controls) and 88 independent components (ICs) were obtained following standard procedures. Elastic net-selected features were used as inputs to support vector machine (SVM). The strengths of the top 10 networks were correlated with clinical features to obtain rsfMRI epilepsy networks.ResultsSVM could classify individuals with epilepsy with 97.5% accuracy (sensitivity=100%, specificity=94.4%). Ten networks with the highest ranking were found in the frontal, perisylvian, cingulo-insular, posterior-quadrant, thalamic, cerebello-thalamic, and temporo-thalamic regions. The posterior-quadrant, cerebello-thalamic, thalamic, medial-visual, and perisylvian networks revealed significant correlation (r>0.40) with age at onset of seizures, the frequency of seizures, duration of illness, and a number of anti-epileptic drugs.ConclusionsIC-derived rsfMRI networks contain epilepsy-related networks and machine learning methods are useful in identifying these networks in vivo. Increased network strength with disease progression in these rsfMRI epilepsy networks could reflect epileptogenesis in TLE.Key Points center dot ICA of resting-state fMRI carries disease-specific information about epilepsy.center dot Machine learning can classify these components with 97.5% accuracy.center dot Subject-specific epilepsy networks could quantify epileptogenesis in vivo.