[Experimental models in epilepsy].
BACKGROUND
Epilepsy is an heterogeneous collection of neurological disorders that have in common a transient and recurrent hypersynchronous activation of large populations of neurons in distinct focal areas or in the entire brain.


METHODS
Research into the cellular mechanisms of epilepsy focuses on understanding. 1. The alterations on cellular and network excitability, and 2. The mechanisms of hypersynchronization. Several different animal models exist that mimic different types of focal and generalized epilepsy in humans. Hypothesis derived from such models is helping to design more effective therapies.
Contreras
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Departamento de Fisiología y Neurociencias, NYU Medical Center, Nueva York 10016, USA.
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000378:metabolism; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D018079:Receptors, GABA