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

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

341
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...
341
Seizures: Classification01:13

Seizures: Classification

653
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:
653
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators01:20

Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators

328
Ezocgabine or retigabine, an antiepileptic drug of remarkable efficacy, has revolutionized the management of seizures. It is a potassium channel activator, explicitly targeting the family of Q subtype potassium channels. It enhances the transmembrane potassium currents, regulating neuronal excitability. This action stabilizes the resting membrane potential, a pivotal factor in mitigating the hyperexcitability that characterizes epilepsy.
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
328
Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers01:08

Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers

1.1K
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...
1.1K
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists01:14

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

567
Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...
567
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators

768
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.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
768

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Gamma Knife, its optimal use - a Letter.

British journal of neurosurgery·2026
Same author

The Reformation.

Progress in brain research·2024
Same author

Two surgical instruments.

Progress in brain research·2024
Same author

Cranial sutures.

Progress in brain research·2024
Same author

The meninges.

Progress in brain research·2024
Same author

The pericranium.

Progress in brain research·2024
Same journal

Preface.

Progress in brain research·2025
Same journal

Mindfulness and meditation: Promoting emotional and cognitive health.

Progress in brain research·2025
Same journal

Cognitive stimulation enhancing memory and mental function.

Progress in brain research·2025
Same journal

The science behind non-pharmacological interventions.

Progress in brain research·2025
Same journal

Technology-assisted interventions for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Progress in brain research·2025
Same journal

Ethical consideration in non-pharmacological treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Progress in brain research·2025
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 5, 2025

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms ECoGs and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture
09:06

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms ECoGs and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture

Published on: December 22, 2016

9.7K

Epilepsy.

Jeremy C Ganz1

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.

Progress in Brain Research
|January 25, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKNS) offers an alternative to epilepsy surgery. This treatment shows promise for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and gelastic epilepsy, with significant remission rates in some patients.

Keywords:
Gelastic epilepsyHypothalamic hamartomaMesial temporal lobe epilepsyRadionecrosis

More Related Videos

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

9.2K
Author Spotlight: Advancing Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery in Children Through Novel Biomarkers and Enhanced Localization
09:57

Author Spotlight: Advancing Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery in Children Through Novel Biomarkers and Enhanced Localization

Published on: September 20, 2024

2.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 5, 2025

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms ECoGs and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture
09:06

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms ECoGs and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture

Published on: December 22, 2016

9.7K
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

9.2K
Author Spotlight: Advancing Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery in Children Through Novel Biomarkers and Enhanced Localization
09:57

Author Spotlight: Advancing Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery in Children Through Novel Biomarkers and Enhanced Localization

Published on: September 20, 2024

2.9K

Area of Science:

  • Neurosurgery
  • Neurology
  • Epileptology

Background:

  • Focal epilepsy presents treatment challenges.
  • Microsurgery is a common approach.
  • Epilepsy associated with arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) sometimes improves spontaneously.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKNS) as an alternative treatment for specific focal epilepsy types.
  • To assess the efficacy of GKNS in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE).
  • To explore GKNS for gelastic epilepsy associated with hypothalamic hamartomas.

Main Methods:

  • GKNS applied as originally designed for epilepsy treatment.
  • Patient cohorts with specific epilepsy types were treated.

Main Results:

  • GKNS demonstrated effectiveness in treating epilepsy associated with AVMs, even before lesion obliteration.
  • Remission rates of approximately 60% were observed in MTLE patients treated with GKNS.
  • GKNS proved beneficial for gelastic epilepsy linked to hypothalamic hamartomas.

Conclusions:

  • GKNS is a viable alternative to microsurgery for select focal epilepsy cases.
  • GKNS offers significant therapeutic potential for MTLE and specific rare epilepsy syndromes.