Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Kindling Mouse Model
07:06

Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Kindling Mouse Model

Published on: June 12, 2018

Brain maturation and epilepsy

Olivier Dulac1, Mathieu Milh, Gregory L Holmes

  • 1Department of Pediatric Neurology, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, UMR663, Paris, France.

Handbook of Clinical Neurology
|April 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Brain development influences epilepsy. Immature or prematurely mature neural pathways, including glutamate and GABA signaling, contribute to various childhood seizure disorders like neonatal myoclonic encephalopathy and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Epileptology

Background:

  • At full term, excitatory glutamate and inhibitory gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission are developing alongside cortical synapses and myelination.
  • Immature brain structures, including limited myelination in cerebral hemispheres and developing long tracts, characterize the neonatal period.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the relationship between neurodevelopmental maturation and the emergence of various epilepsy syndromes in children.
  • To explore how alterations in excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, alongside synaptic and myelin development, contribute to specific pediatric epilepsy types.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on neurodevelopmental milestones and epilepsy in infancy and childhood.
  • Analysis of proposed mechanisms linking neurotransmitter system maturation (glutamate, GABA, NMDA) to seizure onset and characteristics.
  • Correlation of specific epilepsy syndromes with patterns of cortical excitability and brain maturation stages.

Main Results:

  • Premature N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) transmission activation is linked to neonatal myoclonic encephalopathy.
  • Excessive or premature excitability in deep cortical layers may underlie benign neonatal seizures and migrating partial seizures.
  • Age-related cortical hyperexcitability characterizes West and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes, influenced by myelin maturation.
  • Maturation modulates idiopathic generalized epilepsy, with frontal hyperexcitability causing myoclonic-astatic seizures.
  • Delayed or premature maturation of hippocampo-neocortical pathways is implicated in mesial temporal epilepsy and fever-induced epileptic encephalopathy, respectively.

Conclusions:

  • Epilepsy syndromes in children are significantly influenced by the timing and pattern of neurodevelopmental maturation.
  • Understanding the interplay between neurotransmitter systems, synaptic development, and myelination is crucial for characterizing pediatric epilepsies.
  • Aberrant maturation processes, whether delayed or accelerated, provide a framework for understanding the pathogenesis of diverse childhood epilepsy syndromes.

More Related Videos

Inducing Post-Traumatic Epilepsy in a Mouse Model of Repetitive Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury07:07

Inducing Post-Traumatic Epilepsy in a Mouse Model of Repetitive Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury

Published on: February 10, 2020

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins09:07

Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins

Published on: August 15, 2017

Related Concept Videos

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...
Epilepsy ll: Types01:22

Epilepsy ll: Types

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.
Seizures l: Introduction01:20

Seizures l: Introduction

Understanding seizures and epilepsy relies on key definitions that help in recognizing, classifying, and managing these disorders. These definitions provide a framework for recognizing, classifying, and managing seizure disorders.DefinitionsA seizure is a sudden, abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in awareness, movement, sensation, or behavior, depending on the area involved. Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures,...
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.
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
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...