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Published on: May 15, 2018
A role for desynchronization of neuronal activity in triggering epileptic seizures in the brain
1Department of Computer Science, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA.
Abstract:
Recent physiological evidence has suggested that initiation of partial epileptic seizures may be due to a desynchronization rather than hypersynchronization of neuronal communication at a seizure focus. This hypothesis was tested using a computational model of the hippocampal slice possessing a physiologically-consistent network structure and behavior. When desynchronization was simulated using either increased inhibition or decreased synaptic connectivity, inhibition was decreased or normal synaptic connectivity was restored. Thus a decrease in neuronal synchronization may provide a trigger for seizure initiation in some types of epilepsies.
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