Spectrum of motor responses elicited by electrical stimulation of primary motor cortex: A polygraphic study in patients with epilepsy

Objective: To study the neurophysiology of motor responses elicited by electrical stimulation of the pri-mary motor cortex.Methods: We studied motor responses in four patients undergoing invasive epilepsy monitoring and functional cortical mapping via electrical cortical stimulation using surface EMG electrodes. In addition, polygraphic analysis of intracranial EEG and EMG during bilateral tonic-clonic seizures, induced by cor-tical stimulation, was performed in two patients.Results: (a) Electrical cortical stimulation: The motor responses were classified as clonic, jittery, and tonic. The clonic responses were characterized by synchronous EMG bursts of agonist and antagonistic muscles, alternating with silent periods. At stimulation frequencies of <20 Hz, EMG bursts were of <= 50 ms duration (Type I clonic). At stimulation frequencies of 20-50 Hz, EMG bursts were of >50 ms duration and had a complex morphology (Type II clonic). Increasing the current intensity at a constant frequency converted clonic responses into jittery and tonic contractions.(b) Bilateral tonic-clonic seizures: The intracranial EEG showed continuous fast spiking activity during the tonic phase along with interference pattern on surface EMG. The clonic phase was characterized by a polyspike-and-slow wave pattern. The polyspikes were time-locked with the synchronous EMG bursts of agonists and antagonists and the slow waves were time-locked with silent periods. Interpretation: These results suggest that epileptic activity involving the primary motor cortex can pro-duce a continuum of motor responses ranging from type I clonic, type II clonic, and tonic responses to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures. This continuum is related to the frequency and intensity of the epilepti-form discharges with tonic seizures representing the highest end of the spectrum.(c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the neurophysiology of motor responses elicited by electrical stimulation of the primary motor cortex. Methods: Motor responses were studied in four patients undergoing invasive epilepsy monitoring and functional cortical mapping using surface EMG electrodes. Polygraphic analysis of intracranial EEG and EMG during bilateral tonic-clonic seizures induced by cortical stimulation was performed in two patients. Results: The motor responses were classified as clonic, jittery, and tonic. The electrical cortical stimulation induced different types of clonic responses depending on stimulation frequency and intensity. Bilateral tonic-clonic seizures exhibited unique patterns of intracranial EEG and synchronized EMG bursts. Interpretation: Epileptic activity involving the primary motor cortex can produce a continuum of motor responses ranging from clonic to tonic contractions and bilateral tonic-clonic seizures. This study provides valuable insights into the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying motor responses to electrical stimulation of the primary motor cortex.