Language and Motor fMRI Activation in Polymicrogyric Cortex

Purpose: To analyze the patterns of brain activation in polymicrogyric cortex in epilepsy patients by blood oxygenation level–dependent (BOLD) functional MRI (fMRI), during language and motor activation tasks. Methods: Five patients with extratemporal epilepsy associated with polymicrogyria were scanned in a 1.5‐T Siemens scanner with BOLD fMRI sequences, by following language and motor paradigms. Functional images were processed by using Brain Voyager software. Results: Activation of polymicrogyric cortex in the brain area that corresponds to the motor strip was present in all patients. Language studies revealed activation of polymicrogyric cortex over Broca's area in three cases. Conclusions: Functionality was shown in polymicrogyric areas. Therefore if surgical resection is indicated, a careful functional planning is necessary because of functionality of the polymicrogyric cortex.