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Updated: May 24, 2026
Recording and Modulation of Epileptiform Activity in Rodent Brain Slices Coupled to Microelectrode Arrays
Published on: May 15, 2018
In vivo neuronal firing patterns during human epileptiform discharges replicated by electrical stimulation
Gonzalo Alarcón1, Juan Martinez, Shashivadan V Kerai
1Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, United Kingdom. gonzalo.alarcon@kcl.ac.uk
Objective:
To describe neuronal firing patterns observed during human spontaneous interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) and responses to single pulse electrical stimulation (SPES).
Methods:
Activity of single neurons was recorded during IEDs and after SPES in 11 consecutive patients assessed with depth EEG electrodes and attached microelectrodes.
Results:
A total of 66 neurons were recorded during IEDs and 151 during SPES. We have found essentially similar patterns of neuronal firing during IEDs and after SPES, namely: (a) a burst of high frequency firing lasting less than 100 ms (in 39% and 25% of local neurons, respectively for IED and SPES); (b) a period of suppression in firing lasting around 100-1300 ms (in 19% and 14%, respectively); (c) a burst followed by suppression (in 10% and 12%, respectively); (d) no-change (in 32% and 50%, respectively).
Conclusions:
The similarities in neuronal firing patterns associated with IEDs and SPES suggest that, although both phenomena are initiated differently, they result in the activation of a common cortical mechanism, probably initiated by brief synchronised burst firing in some cells followed by long inhibition.
Significance:
The findings provide direct in vivo human evidence to further comprehend the pathophysiology of human focal epilepsy.
