Seizures and Epilepsy: An Overview for Neuroscientists

Abstract

Epilepsy is one of the most common and disabling neurologic conditions, yet we have an incomplete understanding of the detailed pathophysiology and, thus, treatment rationale for much of epilepsy. This article reviews the clinical aspects of seizures and epilepsy with the goal of providing neuroscientists an introduction to aspects that might be amenable to scientific investigation. Seizures and epilepsy are defined, diagnostic methods are reviewed, various clinical syndromes are discussed, and aspects of differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis are considered to enable neuroscientists to formulate basic and translational research questions.T his article provides an overview of seizures and epilepsy for neuroscientists. We focus on broad concepts, rather than clinical details, and raise questions related to mechanisms, epileptogenesis, and therapeutic approaches that might generate interest among basic researchers. Further information about differential diagnosis, drug doses, and clinical management are available from numerous resources (Engel and Pedley 2008;Duchowny et al. 2012;Engel 2013).We first define seizures and epilepsy and summarize their classification, pathophysiology, and genetics. Diagnostic methods are then considered, including the importance of an accurate historical description of an event suspected to be a seizure and the appropriate use of ancillary/confirmative tests, such as electroencephalogram (EEG), neuroimaging, and genetic studies. These modalities enable the clinician to differentiate epilepsy from numerous clinical conditions that mimic seizures, but have a nonepileptic pathophysiological basis. Examples of epilepsy syndromes are then described, selected based on their frequency in the population or because they embody scientific questions that warrant elucidation. Finally, we provide an overview of treatment options and prognosis, including a consideration of conditions that accompany epilepsy (comorbidities) and complicate the daily lives of people with epilepsy. Subsequent articles in this collection explore the scientific basis of many of the clinical concepts introduced here. DEFINITIONS AND EPIDEMIOLOGYA "seizure" is a paroxysmal alteration of neurologic function caused by the excessive, hyper-

ASD Validity

“…Variation in the pathophysiology of non-ASD epilepsy is very similar to the variation in the pathophysiology of epilepsy in ASD (Amiet et al 2013;Blackmon 2015;Stafstrom and Carmant 2015). Some epilepsy is the result of malformations of cortical development (MCDs), including focal cortical dysplasia and heterotopias, and these malformations have been found in ASD (Blackmon 2015).…”

Effect of low potassium concentration on cadmium induced epileptiform activity of leech retzius neurons

“…Uprkos velikim naporima istraživača još od 60-ih godina prošlog veka, i dalje nisu poznati svi mehanizmi koji dovode do epileptogeneze [13,14]. Neuroni bezkičmenjaka predstavljaju dobar model za izučavanje ovih mehanizama, a među njima posebno mesto zauzima RNP [5].…”

Accuracy of Conventional Diagnostic Methods for Identifying Structural Changes in Patients with Focal Epilepsy

“…However, a single neuron, although with abnormal discharge, is insufficient to produce an epileptic seizure, whichhappens only in the context of extensive neuronal networks. Cortical structures and some of the key subcortical areas are involved in the generation of a crisis (1). Cellular mechanisms of epileptogenesis are numerous and include loss of cells, gliosis, modification of neurogenesis and synaptogenesis (2).…”