Objective To observe the alterations in brain gray matter volume(GMV)in idiopathic generalized epilepsy(IGE)patients with typical absence seizure. Methods Nine IGE patients with typical absence seizure and 16 healthy volunteers were prospectively recruited from People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University from September 2012 to January 2014. By using a 3. 0T magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)and voxel - based morphometry(VBM)method, their whole brain structures and their brain GMV were scanned and analyzed,respectively,then the changes in GMV were observed. Results Compared with healthy control group,brain GMV extensively decreased in IGE patients with typical absence seizure. Thirteen regions with significant differences were as follows:the right rectal gyrus(t = 3. 13,P ﹤0. 01),the left rectal gyrus(t = 4. 82,P ﹤ 0. 01),the right calcarine/ cuneus/ gyrus lingualis/ occipital gyrus/ inferior oc-cipital gyrus(t = 6. 86,P ﹤ 0. 01),right gyrus lingualis(t = 4. 01,P ﹤ 0. 01),the left gyrus lingualis/ inferior occipital gyrus(t = 3. 73,P ﹤ 0. 01),the left inferior occipital gyrus/ gyrus lingualis(t = 5. 42,P ﹤ 0. 01),the left middle occipi-tal gyrus(t = 3. 76,P ﹤ 0. 01),the right middle occipital gyrus/ superior occipital gyrus/ middle temporal gyrus( t =3. 85,P ﹤ 0. 01),left middle temporal gyrus/ superior temporal gyrus(t = 5. 06,P ﹤ 0. 01),the right precuneus/ cuneus (t = 3. 33,P ﹤ 0. 01),and the right superior parietal lo-bule(t = 3. 66,P ﹤ 0. 01),right precentral gyrus(t = 3. 44,P ﹤0. 01),right superior frontal gyrus/ paracentral lobule/ supplementary motor area(t = 3. 50,P ﹤ 0. 01). However,GMV increase was not found. Conclusions Brain GMV extensively decreased in 13 brain regions of IGE patients with typical absence seizure,and among them occipital lobe is the most significant.