Consciousness loss during epileptogenesis: implication for VLPO-PnO circuits.
There is a growing concern about consciousness loss during epileptic seizures. Understanding neural mechanisms could lead to a better comprehension of cerebral circuit function in the control of consciousness loss in intractable epilepsy. We propose that ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO)- PnO (nucleus pontis oralis) circuits may serve a major role in the loss of consciousness in drug-refractory epilepsy. Future behavioural and neuroimaging studies are clearly needed to understand the functional connectivity between the VLPO and PnO during loss of consciousness in drug-refractory epilepsy, to greatly prevent unconsciousness in this disorder and improve the quality of life in patients with intractable epilepsy.
Department of Oncology, Wuhan Peritoneal Cancer Clinical Medical Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors & Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center Wuhan, PR China.
Maohui
M
Feng
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan, PR China.
Zhigang
Z
He
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan, PR China.
Baowen
B
Liu
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan, PR China.
Zhixiao
Z
Li
Department of Anesthesiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Shanghai, PR China.
Guorong
G
Tao
Department of Anesthesiology, People's Hospital of Hainan Province Haikou, PR China.
Duozhi
D
Wu
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan, PR China.
Hongbing
H
Xiang
Consciousness loss; drug-refractory epilepsy; nucleus pontis oralis; ventrolateral preoptic area