Quantitative EEG analysis of carbamazepine effects on amygdaloid kindled seizures in cats

We studied the effects of carbamazepine (CBZ) on seizure behaviour and electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in 6 amygdala kindled cats. CBZ reduced the behavioural severity of kindled seizures and prolonged the earlier seizure stages (latency to stage 4). These effects were not always paralleled by a reduction in the duration of seizure activity. EEG activity paradoxically increased in amplitude during early and mid-seizure, then fell in late seizure after CBZ. CBZ also caused an overall decrease in EEG coherence during mid and late seizure. These observations represent a first attempt to use quantitative EEG analysis to investigate the effects of anticonvulsants on electrographic seizure activity. The duration of postictal EEG suppression was reduced after CBZ treatment. The results support the view that CBZ has a major effect on limiting the spread of seizure discharges.