Motor maps, seizures, and behaviour.
Atypically organised motor maps have been described in some people with epilepsy and we have modelled this in rats. Our goal is to more fully understand the mechanisms responsible for seizure-induced functional brain reorganisation and to reverse their effects. Here we present an overview of the relationship between neocortical motor maps, seizures, and interictal behaviour. To begin we summarise the observations of atypical motor maps with epilepsy and in animal models following experimentally induced seizures. Our novel experiments have established that motor map expansion is linked to a functional alteration of motor behaviour. Evidence for some of the putative brain mechanisms responsible for motor map size is discussed. Our successes reversing seizure-induced map expansion by two different methods are also briefly reviewed. Lastly, unanswered questions for possible future experimentation are posed.
Behavioural Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Psychology and the Epilepsy & Brain Circuits Program, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary.
G Campbell
GC
Teskey
Behavioural Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Psychology and the Epilepsy & Brain Circuits Program, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary.
Marie H
MH
Monfils
Behavioural Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Psychology and the Epilepsy & Brain Circuits Program, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary.
Corey
C
Flynn
Behavioural Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Psychology and the Epilepsy & Brain Circuits Program, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary.
Nicole A
NA
Young
Behavioural Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Psychology and the Epilepsy & Brain Circuits Program, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary.
Francine
F
van Rooyen
Behavioural Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Psychology and the Epilepsy & Brain Circuits Program, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary.
Luke C
LC
Henry
Behavioural Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Psychology and the Epilepsy & Brain Circuits Program, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary.
Lana J
LJ
Ozen
Behavioural Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Psychology and the Epilepsy & Brain Circuits Program, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary.
Amy K
AK
Henderson
Behavioural Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Psychology and the Epilepsy & Brain Circuits Program, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary.
Aylin Y
AY
Reid
Behavioural Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Psychology and the Epilepsy & Brain Circuits Program, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary.
Andrew R
0000-0002-2305-9115
AR
Brown
D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D051381:Rats