The preliminary epilepsy work up may include:

• Video monitoring
• MRI
• Neuropsychologic evaluation
• Wada test
• SPECT study
• MEG
• PET
• Functional MRI
• A thorough neurological exam
• MRI spectroscopy
• Ambulatory EEG studies

These tests help to characterize different brain functions related to brain anatomy. Most of the tests, however, indirectly characterize seizures in that they measure brain processes between seizures.

Video monitoring and ictal SPECT are the only studies that actually capture brain function during a seizure. Since the epileptic network is abnormal even between seizures, not just during the actual manifestation of a seizure, surgical alteration the abnormal epilepsy network does not contribute to brain dysfunction.

This is why parts of the epileptic network can be resected safely without compromising the patient's abilities.