Seizure Control by Electric Field Control
This study aims to investigate a neurotechnology that may support a novel therapeutic paradigm for treating epilepsy.
A seizure is an abnormal neural activity in the brain and the main characteristic of epilepsy. About one-third of the patients have seizures resistant to anti epileptic medication and therefore, an alternative treatment is necessary.
Recent studies show that neurons can be recruited and seizures can propagate by a mechanism known as electric field coupling. Researchers have shown that canceling the electric field in the extracellular space can prevent neural propagation and recruitment.
The team now proposes to develop a novel neurotechnology that not only can control the propagation of seizures but prevent the seizure from being generated by controlling the extracellular electric field. The team plans to implement the seizure control system and study its mechanism with four specific aims: 1) Prevent neuronal synchronization in hyperexcitable neural tissue, 2) Develop a novel technology of extracellular voltage clamp to control seizures in-vivo, 3) Determine the mechanisms of seizure control by an extracellular voltage clamp system, 4) Determine the role of the extracellular space in the clamping
efficiency.
Current electrical responsive control therapy detects a seizure and then applies stimulation. The proposed neurotechnology will prevent the synchronization between neurons to stop the generation of seizures before they arise at very low current amplitude thereby providing a novel therapeutic paradigm for treating
epilepsy.
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Principal Investigator: Dominique Durand PhD