skip to main content

SEEG Stimulation – Reproducing Habitual Aura — SCE Neurology MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

HardClinical NeurophysiologySEEG Stimulation – Reproducing Habitual AuraSCE Neurology

A 50-year-old man with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy undergoes stereo-EEG. During the investigation, electrical stimulation of the left hippocampus reproduces his habitual aura (epigastric rising sensation and déjà vu). What is the significance of this finding?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C — Stimulation-induced reproduction of the habitual aura strongly suggests the stimulated region is within or closely connected to the seizure onset zone — this is valuable evidence for surgical planning

During stereo-EEG, electrical stimulation of implanted electrodes can reproduce the patient's habitual symptoms (aura/seizure semiology). When stimulation of a specific site reproduces the patient's typical aura, it provides strong evidence that this region is within or closely connected to the seizure onset zone. This information, combined with ictal EEG onset, imaging, and neuropsychological data, helps define the surgical target. A: It is highly clinically significant. C: The opposite — it supports resection of this area. D: It supports local onset. E: Reproducible habitual symptoms are not artefact.

Reference: ILAE Commission on Neurosurgery; NICE NG217