title: Extratemporal lobe circuits in temporal lobe epilepsy.
abstract: There is increasing interest in the functional anatomy of epilepsy with the goal to identify the critical nodes in the seizure circuits so that therapy can be directed at them. This goal is especially important because direct delivery of therapy, either through electrical stimulation, drug infusion, or molecular therapies such as optogenetics, has become increasingly possible. In this article, we will review the basic functional anatomy of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and its primary subcortical connection, the medial dorsal nucleus of the thalamus. Based on its anatomical connections and known physiological interactions, we propose a key role for this thalamic nucleus that is essential for the development of seizures, and this role suggests that this region is a potential therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 800394, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0394, USA. Electronic address: ehb2z@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Edward H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Bertram
mesh_terms: D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D020645:Mediodorsal Thalamic Nucleus / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Epilepsy; Neural circuits; Physiology; Subcortical connections; Temporal lobe