New hypothesis on pontine–frontal eye field connectivity in Kleine–Levin syndrome

Abstract

Previous studies have indicated involvement of the thalamus and the pons in Kleine–Levin syndrome. In the present study, functional connectivity of the thalamus and the pons was investigated in asymptomatic patients with Kleine–Levin syndrome and healthy controls. Twelve patients and 14 healthy controls were investigated by functional magnetic resonance imaging during rest. Resting state images were analysed using seed regions of interest in the thalamus and the pons. The results showed significantly lower functional connectivity between the pons and the frontal eye field in persons with Kleine–Levin syndrome compared with healthy controls. There were no connectivity differences involving the thalamus. Based on these findings, a relation is proposed between the sleep disorder Kleine–Levin syndrome and cerebral control of eye movements, which in turn is related to visual attention and working memory. This hypothesis has to be tested in future studies of oculomotor control in Kleine–Levin syndrome.