title: Neural mass models as a tool to investigate neural dynamics during seizures.
abstract: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders and is characterized by recurrent seizures. We use theoretical neuroscience tools to study brain dynamics during seizures. We derive and simulate a computational model of a network of hippocampal neuronal populations. Each population within the network is based on a model that has been shown to replicate the electrophysiological dynamics observed during seizures. The results provide insights into possible mechanisms for seizure spread. We observe that epileptiform activity remains localized to a pathological region when a global connectivity parameter is less than a critical value. After establishing the critical value for seizure spread, we explored how to correct the effect by altering particular synaptic gains. The spreading of seizures is quantified using numerical methods for seizure detection. The results from this study provide a new avenue of exploration for seizure control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. tkam@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0081-8569
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kameneva
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Tianlin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Dean R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Freestone
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006624:Hippocampus; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D012640:Seizures
keywords: EEG; Epilepsy; Neural mass model; Seizure spread; Seizure suppression; Signal processing; Synaptic gain