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Tung H, Tsai SC, Huang PR, Hsieh PF, Lin YC, Peng SJ. Morphological and metabolic asymmetries of the thalamic subregions in temporal lobe epilepsy predict cognitive functions. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22611. [PMID: 38114641 PMCID: PMC10730825 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49856-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Both morphological and metabolic imaging were used to determine how asymmetrical changes of thalamic subregions are involved in cognition in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). We retrospectively recruited 24 left-TLE and 15 right-TLE patients. Six thalamic subnuclei were segmented by magnetic resonance imaging, and then co-registered onto Positron emission tomography images. We calculated the asymmetrical indexes of the volumes and normalized standard uptake value ratio (SUVR) of the entire and individual thalamic subnuclei. The SUVR of ipsilateral subnuclei were extensively and prominently decreased compared with the volume loss. The posterior and medial subnuclei had persistently lower SUVR in both TLE cases. Processing speed is the cognitive function most related to the metabolic asymmetry. It negatively correlated with the metabolic asymmetrical indexes of subregions in left-TLE, while positively correlated with the subnuclei volume asymmetrical indexes in right-TLE. Epilepsy duration negatively correlated with the volume asymmetry of most thalamic subregions in left-TLE and the SUVR asymmetry of ventral and intralaminar subnuclei in right-TLE. Preserved metabolic activity of contralateral thalamic subregions is the key to maintain the processing speed in both TLEs. R-TLE had relatively preserved volume of the ipsilateral thalamic volume, while L-TLE had relatively decline of volume and metabolism in posterior subnucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsin Tung
- Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Center of Faculty Development, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Neurological Institute, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Chuan Tsai
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Technology, Institute of Radiological Science, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Pu-Rong Huang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Peiyuan F Hsieh
- Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Neurological Institute, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ching Lin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Technology, Institute of Radiological Science, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Syu-Jyun Peng
- Professional Master Program in Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, No.250, Wuxing St., Xinyi Dist., Taipei City, 110, Taiwan.
- Clinical Big Data Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Fisher RS. Deep brain stimulation of thalamus for epilepsy. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 179:106045. [PMID: 36809846 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuromodulation (neurostimulation) is a relatively new and rapidly growing treatment for refractory epilepsy. Three varieties are approved in the US: vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), deep brain stimulation (DBS) and responsive neurostimulation (RNS). This article reviews thalamic DBS for epilepsy. Among many thalamic sub-nuclei, DBS for epilepsy has been targeted to the anterior nucleus (ANT), centromedian nucleus (CM), dorsomedial nucleus (DM) and pulvinar (PULV). Only ANT is FDA-approved, based upon a controlled clinical trial. Bilateral stimulation of ANT reduced seizures by 40.5% at three months in the controlled phase (p = .038) and 75% by 5 years in the uncontrolled phase. Side effects related to paresthesias, acute hemorrhage, infection, occasional increased seizures, and usually transient effects on mood and memory. Efficacy was best documented for focal onset seizures in temporal or frontal lobe. CM stimulation may be useful for generalized or multifocal seizures and PULV for posterior limbic seizures. Mechanisms of DBS for epilepsy are largely unknown, but animal work points to changes in receptors, channels, neurotransmitters, synapses, network connectivity and neurogenesis. Personalization of therapies, in terms of connectivity of the seizure onset zone to the thalamic sub- nucleus and individual characteristics of the seizures, might lead to improved efficacy. Many questions remain about DBS, including the best candidates for different types of neuromodulation, the best targets, the best stimulation parameters, how to minimize side effects and how to deliver current noninvasively. Despite the questions, neuromodulation provides useful new opportunities to treat people with refractory seizures not responding to medicines and not amenable to resective surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert S Fisher
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences and Neurosurgery by Courtesy, Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 213 Quarry Road, Room 4865, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
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Gentiletti D, de Curtis M, Gnatkovsky V, Suffczynski P. Focal seizures are organized by feedback between neural activity and ion concentration changes. eLife 2022; 11:68541. [PMID: 35916367 PMCID: PMC9377802 DOI: 10.7554/elife.68541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human and animal EEG data demonstrate that focal seizures start with low-voltage fast activity, evolve into rhythmic burst discharges and are followed by a period of suppressed background activity. This suggests that processes with dynamics in the range of tens of seconds govern focal seizure evolution. We investigate the processes associated with seizure dynamics by complementing the Hodgkin-Huxley mathematical model with the physical laws that dictate ion movement and maintain ionic gradients. Our biophysically realistic computational model closely replicates the electrographic pattern of a typical human focal seizure characterized by low voltage fast activity onset, tonic phase, clonic phase and postictal suppression. Our study demonstrates, for the first time in silico, the potential mechanism of seizure initiation by inhibitory interneurons via the initial build-up of extracellular K+ due to intense interneuronal spiking. The model also identifies ionic mechanisms that may underlie a key feature in seizure dynamics, i.e., progressive slowing down of ictal discharges towards the end of seizure. Our model prediction of specific scaling of inter-burst intervals is confirmed by seizure data recorded in the whole guinea pig brain in vitro and in humans, suggesting that the observed termination pattern may hold across different species. Our results emphasize ionic dynamics as elementary processes behind seizure generation and indicate targets for new therapeutic strategies.
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Salami P, Borzello M, Kramer MA, Westover MB, Cash SS. Quantifying seizure termination patterns reveals limited pathways to seizure end. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 165:105645. [PMID: 35104646 PMCID: PMC8860887 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite their possible importance in the design of novel neuromodulatory approaches and in understanding status epilepticus, the dynamics and mechanisms of seizure termination are not well studied. We examined intracranial recordings from patients with epilepsy to differentiate seizure termination patterns and investigated whether these patterns are indicative of different underlying mechanisms. METHODS Seizures were classified into one of two termination patterns: (a) those that end simultaneously across the brain (synchronous), and (b) those whose termination is piecemeal across the cortex (asynchronous). Both types ended with either a burst suppression pattern, or continuous seizure activity. These patterns were quantified and compared using burst suppression ratio, absolute energy, and network connectivity. RESULTS Seizures with electrographic generalization showed burst suppression patterns in 90% of cases, compared with only 60% of seizures which remained focal. Interestingly, we found similar absolute energy and burst suppression ratios in seizures with synchronous and asynchronous termination, while seizures with continuous seizure activity were found to be different from seizures with burst suppression, showing lower energy during seizure and lower burst suppression ratio at the start and end of seizure. Finally, network density was observed to increase with seizure progression, with significantly lower densities in seizures with continuous seizure activity compared to seizures with burst suppression. SIGNIFICANCE Based on this spatiotemporal classification scheme, we suggest that there are a limited number of seizure termination patterns and dynamics. If this bears out, it would imply that the number of mechanisms underlying seizure termination is also constrained. Seizures with different termination patterns exhibit different dynamics even before their start. This may provide useful clues about how seizures may be managed, which in turn may lead to more targeted modes of therapy for seizure control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pariya Salami
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Mia Borzello
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Computational Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mark A Kramer
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M Brandon Westover
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sydney S Cash
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Dolleman-van der Weel MJ, Witter MP. The thalamic midline nucleus reuniens: potential relevance for schizophrenia and epilepsy. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 119:422-439. [PMID: 33031816 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Anatomical, electrophysiological and behavioral studies in rodents have shown that the thalamic midline nucleus reuniens (RE) is a crucial link in the communication between hippocampal formation (HIP, i.e., CA1, subiculum) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), important structures for cognitive and executive functions. A common feature in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative brain diseases is a dysfunctional connectivity/communication between HIP and mPFC, and disturbances in the cognitive domain. Therefore, it is assumed that aberrant functioning of RE may contribute to behavioral/cognitive impairments in brain diseases characterized by cortico-thalamo-hippocampal circuit dysfunctions. In the human brain the connections of RE are largely unknown. Yet, recent studies have found important similarities in the functional connectivity of HIP-mPFC-RE in humans and rodents, making cautious extrapolating experimental findings from animal models to humans justifiable. The focus of this review is on a potential involvement of RE in schizophrenia and epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Dolleman-van der Weel
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim NO-7491, Norway.
| | - M P Witter
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim NO-7491, Norway.
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Santana RF, Silva LARD, Achar E, Ballester G, Ribeiro Junior MAF, Ortiz SRM. C-Fos expression in epileptogenic areas of nephropathic rats undergoing star fruit poisoning. Acta Cir Bras 2020; 35:e202000705. [PMID: 32785417 PMCID: PMC7433670 DOI: 10.1590/s0102-865020200070000005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Studies have demonstrated that star fruit consumption by nephropathic patients triggers severe neurotoxic effects that can lead to convulsions or even death. Brain areas likely susceptible to star fruit poisoning have not been investigated. The objective of the present study was to map possible epileptogenic areas susceptible to star fruit intoxication in nephropathic rats. Methods The study analyzed 25 rats (5 groups). Rats in the experimental group underwent bilateral ureteral obstruction surgery and orogastric gavages with star fruit juice. An electroencephalogram was used to confirm convulsive seizures. Urea and creatinine levels were used to confirm the uremia model. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to map cells with c-Fos protein (c-Fos+ cells) to identify brain areas with increased neuronal activity. Control groups included non-nephropathic and nephropathic rats that did not receive star fruit. Results A statistically significant increase (p<0.01) in c-Fos+ cells was noted in nephropathic animals receiving star fruit juice compared to control groups, in brain areas commonly related to epileptogenic neural circuits including the hippocampus, amygdala, rhinal cortex, anterior cingulate area, piriform area, and medial dorsal thalamus. Conclusion These data corroborate the neurotoxic capacity of star fruit in nephropathic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Eduardo Achar
- UNICID, Brazil; Universidade de São Caetano do Sul, Brazil
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Zhu J, Xu C, Zhang X, Qiao L, Wang X, Yan X, Ni D, Yu T, Zhang G, Li Y. The effect of vagal nerve stimulation on hippocampal-thalamic functional connectivity in epilepsy patients. Brain Res Bull 2020; 163:143-149. [PMID: 32745494 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is widely used as an auxiliary treatment for patients with intractable epilepsy. Up to now, the therapeutic mechanisms remain elusive, and no surgical prediction criteria has been proposed. METHODS In this study, the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) was chosen to explore aberrant intrinsic brain activity and functional connections in 14 epilepsy patients with VNS stimulators between March 2019 and April 2019. Seven patients who ≥ 50 % seizure reduction was defined as responders, and seven non-responders. All patients had got rs-fMRI scan before and after operation. The hippocampal - thalamic connections (hippocampal and thalamus as regions of interest) were detected to evaluate the diversity in all 14 patients and seven responders with stimulation at 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mA. The hippocampal-thalamic connections before operation were also examined between responders and non-responders. RESULTS The preoperative left hippocampal - left thalamic connections and left hippocampal - right thalamic connections in responders were lower than those in non-responders (p < 0.05). While, there was no significant difference in hippocampal - thalamic connections in all epilepsy patients or responders with different current intensities (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS VNS may be more suitable for patients with lower left hippocampal - left thalamic connections and/or left hippocampal - right thalamic connections. The current intensity ≤ 1.5 mA and stimulation time ≤ 3 months may not cause significant changes in hippocampal-thalamic functional connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Zhu
- Beijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Cuiping Xu
- Beijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Liang Qiao
- Beijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xueyuan Wang
- Beijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoming Yan
- Beijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Duanyu Ni
- Beijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Yu
- Beijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Guojun Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yongjie Li
- Beijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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Activity- and pH-dependent adenosine shifts at the end of a focal seizure in the entorhinal cortex. Epilepsy Res 2020; 165:106401. [PMID: 32599416 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2020.106401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Adenosine (ADO) is an endogenous modulator of neuronal excitability, with anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects. It has been proposed that the activity-dependent release of ADO promoted by the extracellular acidification occurring during seizures contributes to seizure termination. To verify this hypothesis, we recorded field potentials, pH and ADO changes measured with enzymatic biosensors during acute focal seizures in the medial entorhinal cortex (mEC) of the isolated guinea-pig brain maintained in vitro. The effect of ADO on seizure-like events (SLEs) induced by GABAa receptor antagonism with bicuculline methiodide (BMI; 50 μM) was assessed by arterial applications of 1 mM ADO. ADO either reduced or prevented epileptiform activity. The A1 receptor antagonist DPCPX (100-500 μM) prolonged BMI-induced seizures and was able to precipitate SLEs in the absence of proconvulsant. Simultaneous recordings of brain activity, extracellular ADO and pH shifts demonstrated that ADO decreases at the onset and progressively rises toward the end of SLEs induced by either BMI or 4-aminopyridine (4AP; 50 μM), reaching maximal values 1-5 min after SLE termination. ADO changes were preceded by a SLE-dependent extracellular acid shift. Both pH acidification and ADO changes were abolished by 22 mM HEPES in the arterial perfusate. In these conditions, SLE duration was prolonged. Our data confirm that ADO plays a role in regulating brain excitability. Its increase depends on seizure-induced acid pH shift and it is maximal after the end of the SLE. These findings strongly suggest that ADO contributes to termination of focal seizures and to the establishment of the postictal depression.
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Quantification of thalamic nuclei in patients diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy and hippocampal sclerosis. Neuroradiology 2019; 62:185-195. [DOI: 10.1007/s00234-019-02299-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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10
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Zhang Y, Zhang M, Yu J, Zhu W, Wang Q, Pan X, Gao X, Yang J, Sun H. Mode-Dependent Effect of Xenon Inhalation on Kainic Acid-Induced Status Epilepticus in Rats. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:375. [PMID: 31474835 PMCID: PMC6702968 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have reported the possible neuroprotective effects of xenon treatment. The purpose of this study was to define the range of effective xenon ratio, most effective xenon ratio, and time-window for intervention in the kainic acid (KA) – induced status epilepticus (SE) rat model. Different ratios of xenon (35% xenon, 21% oxygen, 44% nitrogen, 50% xenon, 21% oxygen, 29% nitrogen, 70% xenon, 21% oxygen, and 9% nitrogen) were used to treat the KA-induced SE. Our results confirmed the anti-seizure role of 50 and 70% xenon mixture, with a stronger effect from the latter. Further, 70% xenon mixture was dispensed at three time points (0 min, 15 min delayed, and 30 min delayed) after KA administration, and the results indicated the anti-seizure effect at all treated time points. The results also established that the neuronal injury in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex (EC), assessed using Fluoro-Jade B (FJB) staining, were reversed by the xenon inhalation, and within 30 min after KA administration. Our study, therefore, indicates the appropriate effective xenon ratio and time-window for intervention that can depress seizures. The prevention of neuronal injury and further reversal of the loss of effective control of depress network in the hippocampus and EC may be the mechanisms underlying the anti-seizure effect of xenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yurong Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Mengdi Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Jie Yu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Wei Zhu
- Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Qiaoyun Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Xiaohong Pan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Xue Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Jing Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Hongliu Sun
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
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de Curtis M, Librizzi L, Uva L, Gnatkovsky V. GABAA receptor-mediated networks during focal seizure onset and progression in vitro. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 125:190-197. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
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Moxon KA, Shahlaie K, Girgis F, Saez I, Kennedy J, Gurkoff GG. From adagio to allegretto: The changing tempo of theta frequencies in epilepsy and its relation to interneuron function. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 129:169-181. [PMID: 30798003 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite decades of research, our understanding of epilepsy, including how seizures are generated and propagate, is incomplete. However, there is growing recognition that epilepsy is more than just the occurrence of seizures, with patients often experiencing comorbid deficits in cognition that are poorly understood. In addition, the available therapies for treatment of epilepsy, from pharmaceutical treatment to surgical resection and seizure prevention devices, often exacerbate deficits in cognitive function. In this review, we discuss the hypothesis that seizure generation and cognitive deficits have a similar pathological source characterized by, but not limited to, deficits in theta oscillations and their influence on interneurons. We present a new framework that describes oscillatory states in epilepsy as alternating between hyper- and hypo-synchrony rather than solely the spontaneous transition to hyper-excitability characterized by the seizures. This framework suggests that as neural oscillations, specifically in the theta range, vary their tempo from a slowed almost adagio tempo during interictal periods to faster, more rhythmic allegretto tempo preictally, they impact the function of interneurons, modulating their ability to control seizures and their role in cognitive processing. This slow wave oscillatory framework may help explain why current therapies that work to reduce hyper-excitability do not completely eliminate seizures and often lead to exacerbated cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen A Moxon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States of America.
| | - Kiarash Shahlaie
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, United States of America; Center for Neuroscience, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95618, United States of America
| | - Fady Girgis
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, United States of America
| | - Ignacio Saez
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, United States of America; Center for Neuroscience, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95618, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey Kennedy
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, United States of America
| | - Gene G Gurkoff
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, United States of America; Center for Neuroscience, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95618, United States of America
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