Detangling neuronal networks in epilepsy for better interventions*

Epilepsy is a condition of recurrent spontaneous seizures.  Fundamental questions remain in epilepsy, limiting effective intervention strategies.  Temporal lobe epilepsy is the most common form of epilepsy, with seizures typically arising in a brain region known as the hippocampal formation.  However, the neural circuits at play in epilepsy, including temporal lobe epilepsy, and the circuits capable of stopping seizures, are not fully elucidated.  By using modern techniques, including on-demand optogenetics, closed-loop optimization strategies, and in vivo imaging methods, we work to disentangle neuronal networks and their relationship to seizures to identify much needed novel therapeutic approaches.