Contribution of Genetics, Non-invasive Methods and Neuropsychology in Focal Cryptogenic Epilepsies

The investigators foresee study duration of 36 months and the enrollment of about 20-25 patients, affected by cryptogenic epilepsy with onset during pediatric age (0-18 years), not only to identify the cause of epilepsy and the epileptogenic zone, but also to define in a non-invasive manner, the patient's possible eligibility for surgical therapy. Innovative neurophysiological methods, such as combined Electroencephalogram-Functional magnetic resonance imaging recording and high resolution electroencephalogram, in addition to 7 Tesla brain magnetic resonance imaging (available through the Imago7 non-profit foundation), neuropsychological studies and genetic tests through Next generation sequencing allow an advanced pre-surgical study free from the risks and discomforts caused by invasive methods. The systematic use of these diagnostic approaches will implement the knowledge and skills of the teams and it will stimulate their use in the clinical daily practise, especially for pediatric patients. In addition to that, the investigators would like to analyse descriptive indications relating to the diagnostic sensitivity of the combined Electroencephalogram-Functional magnetic resonance imaging recording, High Density-electroencephalogram and 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging in the identification of the epileptogenic zone, in patients with cryptogenic focal epilepsy.