The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) groups seizures into “focal”,
“generalized” and “unknown” based on whether the seizure onset is confined to a
brain region in one hemisphere, arises in several brain region simultaneously, or
is not known, respectively. This separation fails to account for the rich diversity
of ...
The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) groups seizures into “focal”,
“generalized” and “unknown” based on whether the seizure onset is confined to a
brain region in one hemisphere, arises in several brain region simultaneously, or
is not known, respectively. This separation fails to account for the rich diversity
of clinically and experimentally observed spatiotemporal patterns of seizure
onset and even less so for the properties of the brain networks generating them.
We consider three different patterns of domino-like seizure onset in Idiopathic
Generalized Epilepsy (IGE) and present a novel approach to classification of
seizures. To understand how these patterns are generated on networks requires
understanding of the relationship between intrinsic node dynamics and coupling
between nodes in the presence of noise, which currently is unknown. We
investigate this interplay here in the framework of domino-like recruitment
across a network. In particular, we use a phenomenological model of seizure
onset with heterogeneous coupling and node properties, and show that in
combination they generate a range of domino-like onset patterns observed in the
IGE seizures. We further explore the individual contribution of heterogeneous
node dynamics and coupling by interpreting in-vitro experimental data in which
the speed of onset can be chemically modulated. This work contributes to a
better understanding of possible drivers for the spatiotemporal patterns
observed at seizure onset and may ultimately contribute to a more personalized
approach to classification of seizure types in clinical practice.