Key result
Insular electrical stimulation-induced ecstatic phenomena correlate with altered heart-brain interactions in focal epilepsy.
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?
Observational (n=4)
Does insular electrical stimulation alter heartbeat evoked potentials in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy?
This study investigates the interoceptive element of ecstatic epilepsy by measuring heartbeat evoked potentials during insular electrical stimulation.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
HEP changes during ecstatic seizures remain hypothesis-generating; leaves open mechanistic role of interoception in focal epilepsy.
Ecstatic epilepsy is a rare form of focal epilepsy with seizures that begin with a blissful feeling of well-being, expanded self-awareness and a feeling of knowledge/revelation. To better understand the interoceptive element of this experience, we investigated the heartbeat evoked potentials (HEP) during the ecstatic phenomenon in four patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. HEP is the brain activity synchronized with the heart rhythm's R-peaks and crucial in brain-body integration, affecting perception and self-related processes [1].
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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.
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