Generalized epilepsy: some of its cellular mechanisms differ from those of focal epilepsy

Abstract The investigation of the mechanisms that cause seizures to suddenly arise in a generalized fashion all over the brain has received less attention in epilepsy research than studies on the cellular mechanisms causing partial (focal) epilepsy, where a small group of neurons is thought to give rise to localized epileptic discharge. In experimental models of partial epilepsy, an important role has been assigned to failure of postsynaptic inhibition as a mechanism underlying even the most minimal manifestations of epileptic discharge. Studies on feline generalized penicillin epilepsy, which resembles a common form of human generalized epilepsy characterized by absence attacks, suggest that its underlying mechanism might be different and that inhibition may play an important role in the mechanism of some forms of generalized epileptic discharge.

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