[General considerations on the kindling effect. Possible extrapolation to man of data obtained by animal...

The kindling effect is a model for experimental epilepsy which, in certain aspects, is close to the so-called 'temporal epilepsy' in man. The study of this phenomenon has been of interest for several years and it seemed useful to us, based on existing data, to examine and discuss the limits in which the kindling effect can occur in man. This effect becomes more difficult to obtain as the phylogenetic scale is ascended. Supported by several studies, the authors insist that kindling should not be considered merely as a model for tonico-clonic secondarily generalized seizures and therefore propose a less restrictive definition. The kindling effect seen as a progressive development of a new and permanent epileptogenic predisposition calls for the greatest caution regarding the impossibility of kindling in man.