Save
Upgrade to remove ads
Busy. Please wait.
Log in with Clever
or
show password
Forgot Password?
Don't have an account?  Sign up 
Sign up using Clever
or
Username is available taken
show password


Make sure to remember your password. If you forget it there is no way for StudyStack to send you a reset link. You would need to create a new account. Your email address is only used to allow you to reset your password. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Already a StudyStack user? Log In

Reset Password
Enter the associated with your account, and we'll email you a link to reset your password.
focusNode
Didn't know it?
click below
 
Knew it?
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
0:00
edit
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.

  Normal Size     Small Size show me how

Epilepsy

Uni of Notts, Neurobiology of Disease, year 2, topic 9

TermDefinition
Seizure A transient occurrence of symptoms caused by abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity
Epilepsy Chronic tendency to develop recurrent unprovoked seizures with neurological & psychosocial consequences
Generalised seizures Seizures simultaneously affecting both hemispheres of the brain, often originating in the cortices & thalamus. Includes tonic & clonic
What the first EEG demonstrate in epilepsy research Hans Berger showed abnormal electrical activity during loss of awareness in seizures
Penfield’s contribution to epilepsy research He electrically stimulated cortical regions during surgery to map seizure foci
Absent seizures Brief loss of awareness but not consciousness, staring, automatisms (involuntary movement), & 3 Hz spike-wave EEG activity; may be triggered by hyperventilation. Possible to grow out of
Myoclonic seizures Brief sudden muscle jerks caused by abnormal cortical discharges
Tonic-clonic seizures Tonic phase causes stiffening, followed by clonic rhythmic jerking & loss of consciousness
Atonic seizures Sudden loss of muscle tone causing collapse/drop attacks
Focal seizures Seizures originating in one hemisphere that may spread to other brain regions
How symptoms can indicate region affected by focal seizure Motor behaviours & automatisms may indicate seizure origin/pathway
How focal seizures can *SOMETIMES* be treated with surgery A defined seizure focus can be resected if it doesn’t involve critical brain regions
How epilepsy is studied in animal models Through brain injury models, genetic rodent models, & chemically induced seizures
Acute slice seizure models & limitations Exposing slices of hippocampal tissue to convulsants then measuring with intracellular electrophysiology. They lack whole-brain networks & often use non-physiological seizure triggers
Interictal spikes Abnormal brief EEG discharges occurring regularly at baseline that may indicate seizure susceptibility
Seizure initiation High-frequency oscillations & microseizures merge as excitation overcomes inhibition
Seizure synchronisation Synaptic connectivity, gap junctions, & network recruitment synchronise neuronal firing
Seizure termination GABAergic inhibition, neurotransmitter depletion, ion shifts, & receptor desensitisation
Epileptogenesis Long-term process where a normal brain becomes chronically seizure-prone
Ictogenesis Neuroglial mechanisms that lead to spontaneous or reflex bursts of epileptic activity, which can occur without preexisting epileptogenesis
Kindling model Repeated subthreshold stimulation eventually causes spontaneous seizures despite seizure inhibition improving in early stages
Neurological changes during epileptogenesis Structural rewiring, molecular changes, & functional network alterations increase seizure susceptibility
Genetic & environmental causes of epilepsy Polygenic factors, developmental malformations, trauma, tumours, infections, & lesions
Antiepileptic drugs mode of action Preferentially bind inactivated voltage-gated sodium channels to suppress high-frequency firing
Why Na+ VGCs can exacerbate epilepsy in certain cases In disorders like Dravet syndrome, inhibitory interneuron sodium channel loss means blockers may worsen seizures
Diagnosis Evidence required to rule out symptom overlap with other symptoms. Videos, EEG, & brain imaging diagnose seizure type to try localise the disorder & treat accordingly
Prolonged seizures (status epilepticus) treatment Benzodiazepines enhance GABA-A signalling & barbiturates prolong GABA-A opening by acting as Positive Allosteric Modulators
Non-pharmacological seizure treatments Surgery, Vagus nerve stimulation by pacemaker, & ketogenic diets
Created by: Denny12
Popular Neuroscience sets

 

 



Voices

Use these flashcards to help memorize information. Look at the large card and try to recall what is on the other side. Then click the card to flip it. If you knew the answer, click the green Know box. Otherwise, click the red Don't know box.

When you've placed seven or more cards in the Don't know box, click "retry" to try those cards again.

If you've accidentally put the card in the wrong box, just click on the card to take it out of the box.

You can also use your keyboard to move the cards as follows:

If you are logged in to your account, this website will remember which cards you know and don't know so that they are in the same box the next time you log in.

When you need a break, try one of the other activities listed below the flashcards like Matching, Snowman, or Hungry Bug. Although it may feel like you're playing a game, your brain is still making more connections with the information to help you out.

To see how well you know the information, try the Quiz or Test activity.

Pass complete!
"Know" box contains:
Time elapsed:
Retries:
restart all cards