Prediction and Control of Focal Seizure Spread: Random Walk with Restart on Heterogeneous Brain Networks

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel graph-based algorithm that improves seizure spread prediction and surgical planning in heterogeneous brain networks by accounting for regional excitability differences, surpassing traditional structural methods.

Contribution

It presents a random walk with restart algorithm that incorporates nodal excitability, enhancing prediction accuracy and robustness in heterogeneous brain models for epilepsy treatment.

Findings

Enhanced seizure spread prediction accuracy in heterogeneous networks.

Improved robustness against heterogeneity in brain models.

Effective virtual surgical strategies with high success and low damage.

Abstract

Whole-brain models offer a promising method of predicting seizure spread, which is critical for successful surgery treatment of focal epilepsy. Existing methods are largely based on structural connectome, which ignores the effects of heterogeneity in regional excitability of brains. In this study, we used a whole-brain model to show that heterogeneity in nodal excitability had a significant impact on seizure propagation in the networks, and compromised the prediction accuracy with structural connections. We then addressed this problem with an algorithm based on random walk with restart on graphs. We demonstrated that by establishing a relationship between the restarting probability and the excitability for each node, this algorithm could significantly improve the seizure spread prediction accuracy in heterogeneous networks, and was more robust against the extent of heterogeneity. We also strategized surgical seizure control as a process to identify and remove the key nodes (connections) responsible for the early spread of seizures from the focal region. Compared to strategies based on structural connections, virtual surgery with a strategy based on mRWER generated outcomes with a high success rate while maintaining low damage to the brain by removing fewer anatomical connections. These findings may have potential applications in developing personalized surgery strategies for epilepsy.