Regional cerebral blood flow pattern in subcortical propagation of focal seizures in newborn monkeys

The propagation of penicillin‐induced focal seizures from the face‐hand area of the right precentral gyrus was determined in 15 newborn monkeys by the carbon 14 antipyrine method for regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). With the electroencephalographic spikes confined to the right hemisphere, the rCBF increase remained in the right sensorimotor cortex. With EEG spikes on the right and concomitant muscular contractions in the left face, the rCBF incrase extended to the right putamen, globus pallidus, and, in 1 instance, the substantia nigra. With EEG spikes appearing bilaterally but the clinical expression remaining in the left face, the rCBF increase extended more fully into the right substantia nigra, VL, VPL, VPM of the thalamus, pontine nucleus, and the left simple and paramedian lobules of the cerebellu. With bilateral EEG spikes and the muscular contractions progressing from the face to the left hand, the rCBF increase extended into the right caudate, subthalamic nucleus, red nucleus, CM of the thalamus, and the left cerebellar nuclei (n. dentatus, n. interpositus).