Pathomechanisms Of Epilepsy

Epilepsy research is not a new scientific field - indeed clinical and experimental investigations in epileptology have been carried out for decades. Despite these continued efforts, the pathomechanisms underlying epilepsy have so far remained elusive. Yet, recent years have brought significant advances, such that important aspects of epileptic discharges and epileptogenesis have been unveiled. The present paper aims to review the current state of the field. Beginning with an introductory section on general principles of neuronal and network excitability, contributing factors such as changes of voltage-gated currents, of synaptic transmission and of gap-junction function will be highlighted. Further more, one section is devoted to morphological changes, and another to specific genetic syndromes.