Epileptic Transitions: Model Predictions and Experimental Validation

The essence of epilepsy is that a patient displays (long) periods of normal EEG activity (i.e., nonepileptiform) intermingled occasionally with epileptiform paroxysmal activity. The mechanisms of transition between these two types of activity are not well understood. To provide more insight into the dynamics of the neuronal networks leading to seizure generation, the authors developed a computational model of thalamocortical circuits based on relevant patho(physiologic) data. The model exhibits bistability, i.e., it features two operational states, ictal and interictal, that coexist. The transitions between these two states occur according to a Poisson process. An alternative scenario for transitions can be a random walk of network parameters that ultimately leads to a paroxysmal discharge. Predictions of bistable computational model with experimental results from different types of epilepsy are compared.