Dynamic Fluorescence Imaging in Experimental Epilepsy

The ability to develop effective new treatments for epilepsy may depend on improved understanding of seizure pathophysiology, about which many questions remain. Dynamic fluorescence imaging of activity at single-neuron resolution with fluorescent indicators in experimental model systems in vivo has revolutionized basic neuroscience and has the potential to do so for epilepsy research as well. Here, we review salient issues as they pertain to experimental imaging in basic epilepsy research, including commonly used imaging technologies, data processing and analysis, interpretation of results, and selected examples of how imaging-based approaches have revealed new insight into mechanisms of seizures and epilepsy.