What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Observational. Population: drug-resistant focal epilepsy (n=4). Intervention: Insular electrical stimulation. Primary outcome: heartbeat evoked potentials (HEP).

What does this research mean for the field?

Ecstatic phenomena induced by insular electrical stimulation in patients with focal epilepsy are associated with altered heart-brain interactions, specifically changes in heartbeat evoked potentials. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the interoceptive neural mechanisms underlying ecstatic seizures by examining heartbeat evoked potentials during insular electrical stimulation.

September 14, 2026Brain stimulationOpen Access

Insular electrical stimulation-induced ecstatic phenomena correlate with altered heart-brain interactions in focal epilepsy.

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Why the study?

To better understand the interoceptive element of ecstatic epilepsy, a rare form of focal epilepsy characterized by seizures with blissful well-being, expanded self-awareness, and revelation.

Does insular electrical stimulation alter heartbeat evoked potentials in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy?

Population

4 patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy

Design

Case_series

Key result

Insular electrical stimulation induced ecstatic phenomena were related to altered heart-brain interaction in four patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy.

Authors

RTR. Tyrand GIG.R. Iannotti NSNina M. Sooter

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

HEP changes during ecstatic seizures remain hypothesis-generating; leaves open mechanistic role of interoception in focal epilepsy.

Key Points

To evaluate the interoceptive neural mechanisms underlying ecstatic seizures by examining heartbeat evoked potentials during insular electrical stimulation.
Assessed heartbeat evoked potentials (HEP) synchronized to cardiac R-peaks during induced ecstatic phenomena.
Included N=4 patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy undergoing direct insular electrical stimulation.
Insular stimulation elicited ecstatic states marked by intense well-being, bliss, and heightened self-awareness in all patients.
Heartbeat evoked potentials showed significant alterations during the ecstatic experience, reflecting modified cortical processing of cardiac inputs.

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=4)

Structured PICO

Does insular electrical stimulation alter heartbeat evoked potentials in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy?

Population

4 patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy investigated for heartbeat evoked potentials during ecstatic phenomena.

Exposure

Insular electrical stimulation inducing ecstatic phenomena

Outcome

Heartbeat evoked potentials (HEP)surrogate

This study investigates the interoceptive element of ecstatic epilepsy by measuring heartbeat evoked potentials during insular electrical stimulation.

Cite This Study

Tyrand et al. (2026) conducted an observational in drug-resistant focal epilepsy (n=4). Insular electrical stimulation was evaluated on heartbeat evoked potentials (HEP). Insular electrical stimulation induced ecstatic phenomena were related to altered heart-brain interaction in four patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa7afef79e9260bc85aace1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2026.103208

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September 14, 2026Brain stimulationOpen Access

Insular electrical stimulation-induced ecstatic phenomena correlate with altered heart-brain interactions in focal epilepsy.

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Why the study?

To better understand the interoceptive element of ecstatic epilepsy, a rare form of focal epilepsy characterized by seizures with blissful well-being, expanded self-awareness, and revelation.

Does insular electrical stimulation alter heartbeat evoked potentials in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy?

Population

4 patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy

Design

Case_series

Key result

Insular electrical stimulation induced ecstatic phenomena were related to altered heart-brain interaction in four patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy.

Authors

RTR. Tyrand GIG.R. Iannotti NSNina M. Sooter

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

HEP changes during ecstatic seizures remain hypothesis-generating; leaves open mechanistic role of interoception in focal epilepsy.

Key Points

To evaluate the interoceptive neural mechanisms underlying ecstatic seizures by examining heartbeat evoked potentials during insular electrical stimulation.
Assessed heartbeat evoked potentials (HEP) synchronized to cardiac R-peaks during induced ecstatic phenomena.
Included N=4 patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy undergoing direct insular electrical stimulation.
Insular stimulation elicited ecstatic states marked by intense well-being, bliss, and heightened self-awareness in all patients.
Heartbeat evoked potentials showed significant alterations during the ecstatic experience, reflecting modified cortical processing of cardiac inputs.

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=4)

Structured PICO

Does insular electrical stimulation alter heartbeat evoked potentials in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy?

Population

4 patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy investigated for heartbeat evoked potentials during ecstatic phenomena.

Exposure

Insular electrical stimulation inducing ecstatic phenomena

Outcome

Heartbeat evoked potentials (HEP)surrogate

This study investigates the interoceptive element of ecstatic epilepsy by measuring heartbeat evoked potentials during insular electrical stimulation.

Cite This Study

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa7afef79e9260bc85aace1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2026.103208

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark