title: The system epilepsies: a pathophysiological hypothesis.
abstract: We postulate that "system epilepsies" (SystE) are due to an enduring propensity to generate seizures of functionally characterized brain systems. Data supporting this hypothesis-that some types of epilepsy depend on the dysfunction of specific neural systems-are reviewed. The SystE hypothesis may drive pathophysiologic and clinical studies that can advance our understanding of epilepsies and can open up new therapeutic perspectives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology, IRCCS Foundation Neurological Institute Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy. avanzini@istituto-besta.it
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Avanzini
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manganotti
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meletti
authors.forename: Solomon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Moshé
authors.forename: Ferruccio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Panzica
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Capovilla
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans