Neuronal Physiology of Generalized Seizures: The 4 Horsemen of Absence Epilepsy

Abstract

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Understanding of Consciousness in Absence Seizures: A Literature Review

“…36 Although rodent absence epilepsy models have face validity with respect to co-morbidities, developmental characteristics, and response to anti-seizure medications, their external validity has been questioned because of contradictory fMRI findings with human studies. 39 Indeed, human patients with absence seizures consistently exhibit decreased cortical bloodoxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal during seizures, 8,10,13,39 whereas rodents were found to have increased cortical BOLD signal. 36,40,41 However, McCafferty et al hypothesized that this discrepancy was secondary to the anesthetic agents given to rodents prior to the fMRI scan which altered their BOLD responses.…”

“… 8 , 27 , 32 , 42 , 47 For instance, rodent studies of absence seizures identified EEG alterations that began up to 60 seconds prior to the first spike-wave discharge, and that coincided with a reduction in neuronal firing and altered behavior. 33 , 39 Similarly, multiple human fMRI studies have demonstrated early BOLD signal changes beginning at least five to ten seconds before seizure onset. 6 , 10 , 13 , 18 Although these findings were corroborated by Guo et al, they observed that fMRI changes only preceded absence seizures that were associated with impaired, but not spared, behavior.…”