Epilepsy – Beyond the Local Network

While human research has emphasized the large scale network disruptions in the epilepsies and their comorbidities, basic science has typically focused on local networks. One of the most important large scale networks in epilepsy is the major state control system, for sleep-wake and vigilance, that controls cortical excitability and cortical rhythms. While these circuits have been elucidated in increasing detail over the last decade, they are still little explored in epilepsy.

Dr. Pedersen will provide an overview of sleep-wake circuitry and its relevance to epilepsy before describing a similar research program and a novel technology in development for better understanding large scale brain networks in the epilepsies and their comorbidities.