Adding an experimental perturbation to multimodal maps of epileptic networks.
EPICONN is a multidisciplinary programme at MedUni Vienna investigating focal epilepsy through imaging, electrophysiology and computational approaches. Within this collaboration, our contribution focuses on interleaved and chronometric TMS-fMRI.
Our scientific question
Do epilepsy-relevant network nodes respond differently when perturbed at specific moments during a cognitive task? We combine a reproducible task context with timed stimulation and a whole-brain BOLD readout.
A staged research programme
Our working-memory and language methods provide the foundation. The next steps are implementation and evaluation in patients, including tolerability, data quality and reproducibility. Longer-term work will test whether the resulting network-response measures add useful information about cognitive and clinical outcomes.
These are research aims; the approach is not presented as an established diagnostic test or a validated predictor of surgical outcome.
See how chronometric TMS-fMRI works →
Completed work
Towards Causal connectomics in epilepsy: A chronometric TMS-fMRI approach
Maria Nanou
People behind the work
Verena Witz carries out much of the group’s EPICONN research. Minyan Huang contributes substantially to experimental piloting and methodological implementation. Both are active PhD researchers in the Tik Group.
The EPICONN consortium
EPICONN is an LBG Clinical Research Group led by Silvia Bonelli-Nauer, with Gilbert Hangel and Roxane Licandro as deputy heads. It brings together complementary expertise in connectomics, electrophysiology, imaging, genetics, neurosurgery and computational modelling.
Meet our EPICONN research partners → · Official consortium and project responsibilities ↗