The Modeling of Spike-Wave Discharges in Brain with Small Oscillatory Neural Networks

A pathology of coupling architecture in the thalamo-cortical system is considered the main cause of absence epilepsy, the eletroencephalographic primary manifestation of which are spike-wave discharges. The immediate cause of the discharges may be in increase of intracortical connectivity or external stimulation of cortex or thalamus. At the same time, the mechanisms of discharge termination are still not clear; so from the point of view of the dynamical system theory, the spike-wave discharge can be considered as a long transient process. In this paper, we propose a simple mathematical model of network with 14 identical Fitzhugh–Nagumo neurons, which is organized in accordance with modern ideas about thalamo-cortical brain network. In this model, long transients in response to short-term pulse driving from a separate neuron, representing the nervus trigeminus, are shown to be possible. Bifurcation analysis reveals such transients to develop in the system approximately the bifurcation of the cycle birth from the condensation of phase trajectories. The model may be useful for detailed studies of the thalamo-cortical system. It also can be used to investigate effects of electrical brain stimulation and pharmacological interventions, and to test the methods for evaluating connectivity in brain.

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Co-existence of Rolandic and 3 Hz Spike-Wave Discharges on EEG in Children with Epilepsy

Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques ◽

10.1017/cjn.2018.364 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 64-70 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Anita N. Datta ◽

Laura Wallbank ◽

Peter K. H. Wong

Keyword(s):

Clinical Data ◽

Seizure Control ◽

Age Of Onset ◽

Absence Epilepsy ◽

Childhood Absence Epilepsy ◽

Drug Induced ◽

Favorable Prognosis ◽

Spike Wave Discharges ◽

Spike Wave

AbstractObjectiveBenign epilepsy of childhood with central temporal spikes (BECTS) and absence epilepsy are common epilepsy syndromes in children with similar age of onset and favorable prognosis. However, the co-existence of the electrocardiogram (EEG) findings of rolandic spike and 3 Hz generalized spike-wave (GSW) discharges is extremely rare, with few cases reported in the literature. Our objective was to characterize the EEG findings of these syndromes in children in our center and review the electro-clinical features.MethodsAll EEGs at BC Children’s Hospital are entered in a database, which include EEG findings and clinical data. Patients with both centro-temporal spikes and 3 Hz GSW discharges were identified from the database and clinical data were reviewed.ResultsAmong the 43,061 patients in the database from 1992 to 2017, 1426 with isolated rolandic discharges and 528 patients with isolated 3 Hz GSW discharges were identified, and 20 (0.05%) patients had both findings: 3/20 had BECTS, and subsequently developed childhood absence epilepsy and 17/20 had no seizures characteristic for BECTS. At follow-up, 17 (85%) were seizure-free, 1 (5%) had rare, and 2 (10%) had frequent seizures.ConclusionsThis is the largest reported group of patients to our knowledge with the co-existence of rolandic and 3 Hz GSW discharges on EEGs in one institution, not drug-induced. As the presence of both findings is extremely rare, distinct pathophysiological mechanisms are likely. The majority had excellent seizure control at follow-up, similar to what would be expected for each type of epilepsy alone.

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