RESUMEN
Objective:To clarify the application value of direct cortical electrical stimulation (DES) in locating vestibular functional cortices and the distribution of vestibular functional cortices.Methods:Implantation of stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes was performed in 17 drug-resistant epilepsy patients in our hospital from January 2016 to December 2019. The clinical data of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. DES was performed on these patients and stimulation sites eliciting vestibular symptoms were selected to evaluate accurately anatomic locations of stimulation sites eliciting vestibular symptoms in standard Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) space, and acquired accurate vestibular functional maps in groups.Results:There were 33 stimulation sites eliciting vestibular symptoms, including 9 sites (28%) located in the supramarginal gyrus, 6 sites (18%) located in the precuneus, 6 sites (18%) located in the posterior insular cortex, 1 site (3%) located in the anterior insular cortex, 4 sites (12%) located in the superior temporal gyrus, 2 sites (6%) located in the middle temporal gyrus, 4 sites (12%) located in the precentral gyrus, and 1 site located in cingulate cortex (3%). Stimulation sites eliciting vestibular symptoms induced by lowest intensity located in the insular cortex (average intensity was 2.43 mA), and the average intensity of 6 stimulation sites located in the posterior insular cortex was 2.17 mA.Conclusion:The functional cortex associated with vestibular symptoms defined by DES sites including the insular cortex, superior temporal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, superior marginal gyrus, precuneus, precentral gyrus, and cingulate cortex.