Evaluation of the Effects of Aerobic Physical Exercise Program in Default Mode Network and Hippocampal Connectivity in People with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and its Relation with Pulmonary Function

Abstract

Introduction: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy is the most frequent type of adult focal epilepsies and it is related with the default mode network, which can be accessed by functional magnetic resonance imaging. This relation happens due to connectivity disruptions in specific regions of the brain, such as the posterior cingulate cortex and the medial prefrontal cortex, and the epileptogenic potential of the Default Mode Network, associated with hippocampal sclerosis. Physical exercise, which is already recognized by its systemic benefits to important neurotrophic factors, encephalic vascularization and synaptic plasticity, may contribute with significant changes in the DMN and the hippocampus, probably by increasing functional connectivity in deficit areas. This study suggests a possible connection among the DMN, the hippocampus, the aerobic physical exercise (measured by cardiorespiratory capacity), Temporal Lobe Epilepsy comorbidities and epileptogenic potential.Objective: this study aims to analyze the outcomes of an aerobic physical exercise program in the DMN and hippocampal connectivity by fMRI imaging. Methods: fMRI data and images from the Unicamp Clinical Hospital Neuroimaging Laboratory will be processed and analyzed. They were previously divided in a control group and a group which went through an aerobic training program and cardiorespiratory evaluation After that, a statistical comparison between the DMN hippocampal connectivity and the patients' pulmonary function will be done.