Physiological and pathological neuronal connectivity in the living human brain based on intracranial EEG signals: the current state of research

Abstract

Over the past decades, studies of human brain networks have received growing attention as the assessment and modelling of connectivity in the brain is a topic of high impact with potential application in the understanding of human brain organization under both physiological as well as various pathological conditions. Under specific diagnostic settings, human neuronal signal can be obtained from intracranial EEG (iEEG) recording in epilepsy patients that allows gaining insight into the functional organisation of living human brain. There are two approaches to assess brain connectivity in the iEEG-based signal: evaluation of spontaneous neuronal oscillations during ongoing physiological and pathological brain activity, and analysis of the electrophysiological cortico-cortical neuronal responses, evoked by single pulse electrical stimulation (SPES). Both methods have their own advantages and limitations. The paper outlines available methodological approaches and provides an overview of current findings in studies of physiological and pathological human brain networks, based on intracranial EEG recordings.

Keywords: cortico-cortical evoked potentials; effective connectivity; functional connectivity; human brain; intracranial EEG; network.