Toward a neurodynamical understanding of ictogenesis

Although considerable information on cellular and network mechanisms of epilepsy exists, it is still not understood why, how, and when the transition from interictal to ictal state takes place. The authors review their work on nonlinear EEG analysis and provide consistent evidences that dynamical changes in the neural activity allows the characterization of a preictal state several minutes before seizure onset. This new neurodynamical approach of ictogenesis opens new perspectives for studying the basic mechanisms in epilepsy as well as for possible therapeutic interventions.