Ictal high-frequency activity in limbic thalamic nuclei varies with electrographic seizure-onset patterns in temporal lobe epilepsy

•Temporal properties of ictal high-frequency activity (HFA) from direct recordings of the human thalami (AN, CeM, and MD) are presented in a first-in-man study.•Ictal HFA is nucleus-specific and appears more robust during ictal onset in the AN and MD and during termination in the CeM.•Seizures with low amplitude fast activity onset patterns rapidly propagate to the thalamus.