Molecular mechanisms of epilepsy

Nat Neurosci. 2015 Mar;18(3):367-72. doi: 10.1038/nn.3947. Epub 2015 Feb 24.

Abstract

Decades of experimental work have established an imbalance of excitation and inhibition as the leading mechanism of the transition from normal brain function to seizure. In epilepsy, these transitions are rare and abrupt. Transition processes incorporating positive feedback, such as activity-dependent disinhibition, could provide these uncommon timing features. A rapidly expanding array of genetic etiologies will help delineate the molecular mechanism(s). This delineation will entail quite a bit of cell biology. The genes discovered so far are more remarkable for their diversity than their similarities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Epilepsy / genetics*
  • Epilepsy / pathology
  • Epilepsy / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Neural Inhibition / genetics
  • Neural Inhibition / physiology
  • Seizures / physiopathology