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Related Concept Videos

Electroconvulsive Therapy01:30

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early years,...
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein

Antiepileptic drugs, such as levetiracetam (Keppra) and brivaracetam (Briviact), have emerged as crucial tools in managing epilepsy. These medications exert their therapeutic effects by targeting the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, a transmembrane glycoprotein primarily found in the brain.
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

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γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
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Seizures: Classification01:13

Seizures: Classification

Epilepsy is primarily characterized by unpredictable seizures, either provoked by an identifiable factor, such as injury or illness, or unprovoked, occurring spontaneously without apparent cause.
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Focal Seizures
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Epilepsy ll: Types01:22

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Recurrent seizures, stemming from abnormal electrical activity in the brain, are the defining characteristic of epilepsy, a chronic neurological condition. Because seizure features vary greatly, epilepsy is classified using two systems: by seizure type and by epilepsy syndromes. These classifications enable clinicians to describe seizure patterns and select suitable treatment strategies.I. Classification by Seizure Type1. Focal EpilepsyFocal epilepsy begins in one hemisphere of the brain.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
04:29

Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression

Published on: January 7, 2019

[Vagus nerve stimulation therapy for epilepsy].

Kensuke Kawai1

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Brain and Nerve = Shinkei Kenkyu No Shinpo
|March 29, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) offers palliative seizure control for intractable epilepsy when drugs fail. This review covers VNS history, efficacy, safety, and mechanisms, highlighting its role as an alternative treatment.

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Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
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Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Tool to Induce Plasticity in Pathways Relevant for Extinction Learning
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Published on: August 21, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Epileptology

Context:

  • Medically intractable epilepsy presents significant challenges for patients unresponsive to antiepileptic drugs.
  • Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an established palliative treatment option for drug-resistant epilepsy.
  • This therapy involves chronic, intermittent electrical stimulation of the left vagus nerve via an implanted device.

Purpose:

  • To review the history, efficacy, and safety of vagus nerve stimulation for epilepsy.
  • To explore the surgical anatomy and physiology of the vagus nerve relevant to VNS.
  • To discuss the proposed mechanisms of action for VNS in inhibiting seizures and affecting the central nervous system.

Summary:

  • Vagus nerve stimulation is the first electrostimulation therapy for epilepsy, supported by randomized trials, offering palliative seizure reduction.
  • It serves as a crucial alternative for patients with drug-resistant seizures, especially those unsuitable for craniotomy, with recent approval and insurance coverage in Japan.
  • The review details the treatment's background, effectiveness, safety profile, and underlying physiological effects.

Impact:

  • VNS provides a valuable therapeutic alternative for a specific epilepsy patient population, improving seizure management.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate VNS mechanisms, identify predictors of success, and confirm efficacy in pediatric and generalized seizure cases.
  • Investigating VNS's impact on cognitive function, development, and quality of life is essential for comprehensive patient care.