Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Seizures l: Introduction01:20

Seizures l: Introduction

33
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,...
33
Seizures ll: Types01:19

Seizures ll: Types

25
Seizures are sudden bursts of abnormal electrical discharge in the brain that interfere with normal function. They are commonly divided into three groups: focal seizures, generalized seizures, and other types that do not fit neatly into either category.Focal SeizuresFocal seizures begin in a single brain region. When awareness is preserved, they are called focal aware seizures and may cause sensations such as tingling, unusual smells, or flashing lights. When awareness is impaired, they are...
25
Seizures: Classification01:13

Seizures: Classification

2.4K
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:
2.4K
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

1.7K
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...
1.7K
Epilepsy ll: Types01:22

Epilepsy ll: Types

30
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.
30
Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers01:08

Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers

2.3K
Antiepileptic drugs are specialized medications that prevent seizures in individuals diagnosed with epilepsy. These drugs primarily function by blocking the movement of sodium ions through channels in the neuronal membrane, inhibiting the repetitive firing of action potentials often associated with seizures.
Sodium channel blockers modulate ion channels, particularly voltage-gated sodium channels. They block only sodium ion movement.
Among the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs are...
2.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

An update on the network theory of epilepsy.

Frontiers in network physiology·2026
Same author

Language mapped to a high-resolution brain atlas for surgical evaluation of epilepsy patients.

Epilepsia·2026
Same author

Activating Ras-MAPK pathway variants drive hippocampal clonal competition in human epilepsy.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Spatial and spectral structure of local functional connectivity of the background intracranial EEG in patients with focal epilepsy.

Frontiers in network physiology·2026
Same author

Multitask Language Mapping to Visualize the Spatial Configuration of Polyfunctional Language Cortex.

Neurology·2025
Same author

Rapid Multianalyte Quantification of Brain Chemistry Using Si-Nanoribbon Bio-Field-Effect Transistor Sensors.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2025
Same journal

Peptidomics in the Spotlight: Advanced Sample Treatment Techniques and Analytical Insights.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Methods for the Investigation of Protein-Ligands Interactions.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Sample Preparation Strategies for Microbial Cell Surface Proteomics: Integrating Shaving and Shotgun Approaches.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Proteomic Sample Preparation for the Petroleum Industry: A Biocorrosion Case Study.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Proteomic and Functional Comparison of Extracellular Vesicles from Wild-Type and Lyn-Deficient Stromal Cells.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Proteomic Analysis of Histone Sequence Variants and Post-translationally Modified Forms.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
07:01

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice

Published on: May 16, 2019

8.0K

What is a seizure focus?

J Victor Nadler1, Dennis D Spencer

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, 3813, Durham, NC, 27710, USA, nadle002@acpub.duke.edu.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|July 12, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Most seizures originate from a distributed network, not a single brain site. This understanding of the seizure focus is crucial for improving epilepsy surgery and treatment strategies.

More Related Videos

Stereo-Electro-Encephalo-Graphy SEEG With Robotic Assistance in the Presurgical Evaluation of Medical Refractory Epilepsy: A Technical Note
05:54

Stereo-Electro-Encephalo-Graphy SEEG With Robotic Assistance in the Presurgical Evaluation of Medical Refractory Epilepsy: A Technical Note

Published on: June 13, 2016

17.6K
Generation and On-Demand Initiation of Acute Ictal Activity in Rodent and Human Tissue
06:45

Generation and On-Demand Initiation of Acute Ictal Activity in Rodent and Human Tissue

Published on: January 19, 2019

8.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
07:01

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice

Published on: May 16, 2019

8.0K
Stereo-Electro-Encephalo-Graphy SEEG With Robotic Assistance in the Presurgical Evaluation of Medical Refractory Epilepsy: A Technical Note
05:54

Stereo-Electro-Encephalo-Graphy SEEG With Robotic Assistance in the Presurgical Evaluation of Medical Refractory Epilepsy: A Technical Note

Published on: June 13, 2016

17.6K
Generation and On-Demand Initiation of Acute Ictal Activity in Rodent and Human Tissue
06:45

Generation and On-Demand Initiation of Acute Ictal Activity in Rodent and Human Tissue

Published on: January 19, 2019

8.4K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Epilepsy Research
  • Clinical Neurology

Background:

  • The seizure focus is the brain region where seizures originate, often equated with the epileptogenic zone.
  • Current diagnostic tests cannot precisely define the boundaries of the epileptogenic zone.
  • Discrepancies between imaging/EEG findings and seizure origin suggest a broader network involvement.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence supporting the concept of a "distributive focus" in seizure origination.
  • To highlight the implications of a distributed seizure network for epilepsy surgery.

Main Methods:

  • Review of animal studies on seizure generation.
  • Analysis of studies involving surgical resection for intractable epilepsy.

Main Results:

  • Seizures frequently involve spatially distinct but synaptically connected brain regions.
  • Most seizures are not strictly local but arise from network interactions.
  • Discrepancies in diagnostic findings point to a distributed, rather than focal, seizure origin.

Conclusions:

  • The concept of a "distributive focus" is supported by current evidence.
  • Understanding seizures as network phenomena is essential for advancing epilepsy treatment.
  • Surgical programs are adapting to capture network activity during intracranial studies.