Clinical neuroscienceNon-invasive brain mapping in epilepsy: Applications from magnetoencephalography

•MEG is ideally suited to study epilepsy at the network level.•New analysis strategies include spatial filters, time-frequency analysis for cortical dynamics and graph theory applications for connectivity.•Novel MEG analyses approaches show altered cortical dynamics and widespread network alterations in focal and generalised epilepsies.•Identification of regional network abnormalities may have a role in epilepsy surgery evaluation.

BackgroundNon-invasive in vivo neurophysiological recordings with EEG/MEG are key to the diagnosis, classification, and further understanding of epilepsy. Historically the emphasis of these recordings has been the localisation of the putative sources of epileptic discharges. More recent developments see new techniques studying oscillatory dynamics, connectivity and network properties.New methodNew analysis strategies for whole head MEG include the development of spatial filters or beamformers for source localisation, time-frequency analysis for cortical dynamics and graph theory applications for connectivity.ResultsThe idea of epilepsy as a network disorder is not new, and new applications of structural and functional brain imaging show differences in cortical and subcortical networks in patients with epilepsy compared to controls. Concepts of 'focal' and 'generalised' are challenged by evidence of focal onsets in generalised epileptic discharges, and widespread network changes in focal epilepsy. Spectral analyses can show differences in induced cortical response profiles, particularly in photosensitive epilepsy.Comparison with existing methodThis review focuses on the application of MEG in the study of epilepsy, starting with a brief historical perspective, followed by novel applications of source localisation, time-frequency and connectivity analyses.ConclusionNovel MEG analyses approaches show altered cortical dynamics and widespread network alterations in focal and generalised epilepsies, and identification of regional network abnormalities may have a role in epilepsy surgery evaluation.