• Junichi Yamamoto, Akio Ikeda, Takeshi Satow, Kazuhide Takeshita, Motohiro Takayama, Masao Matsuhashi, Riki Matsumoto, Shinji Ohara, Nobuhiro Mikuni, Jun Takahashi, Susumu Miyamoto, Waro Taki, Nobuo Hashimoto, John C Rothwell, and Hiroshi Shibasaki.
• Human Brain Research Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Shogoin, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan.
• Epilepsia. 2002 May 1; 43 (5): 491-5.

PurposeThis study was conducted to investigate the effect of low-frequency electric cortical stimulation on epileptic focus in humans.MethodsWe stimulated the epileptic focus in a patient with medically intractable mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) by means of subdural electrodes and evaluated the change in the number of interictal epileptiform discharges. We used biphasic electric current of 0.3-ms duration presented at 0.9-Hz frequency for 250 s, comparing stimulus intensity of 7.5, 2, and 0.5 mA.ResultsInterictal epileptiform discharges at the ictal focus occurred less frequently after the stimulation with the intensity of 0.5 mA. With the intensity of 7.5 mA and 2.0 mA, however, habitual auras were elicited by the stimulation, and afterdischarges were seen on the cortical EEG.ConclusionsLow-frequency, low-intensity electric cortical stimulation could produce inhibitory effects on epileptic activity. At the same time, however, a caution for possible induction of EEG seizures is needed, even when applying low-frequency electric stimulation.

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