Researchers have long grappled with the challenge of predicting seizure outcomes for patients undergoing brain surgery due to drug-resistant epilepsy—a condition that significantly impacts the quality of life for approximately 20 million people worldwide. Although surgical intervention, specifically brain resection, can offer relief, studies have shown that nearly half of these patients do not achieve…

In the world of epilepsy, one of the most challenging aspects for patients is the unpredictable nature of seizures. However, some individuals experience a precursor sensation called an “aura,” which serves as a warning sign, allowing them to seek safety before a seizure strikes. Researchers have taken a significant step in understanding these auras by…

A recent study focused on Genetic Generalized Epilepsies (GGE), which make up a notable fraction of epilepsy cases. Unlike other forms of epilepsy that have distinct lesions, GGE is characterized by widespread changes in the brain’s structure, particularly in subcortical areas. Researchers aimed to explore these morphological changes in greater detail than prior volumetric studies,…

A recent study has shed light on how epilepsy can impact brain aging, tapping into advanced imaging techniques to understand this complex relationship. Researchers examined the white matter of the brain — the connective tissues that facilitate communication between different brain regions — using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in 257 epilepsy patients and 429 healthy…

Epileptic seizures can be disruptive and come with a range of debilitating symptoms, which are thought to arise from irregular patterns of electrical activity in the brain. A recent study sheds light on how seizures specifically disrupt the sequence of electrical spiking among populations of neurons in the human cerebral cortex. Researchers monitored five male…

In a recent study, researchers delved into the role of a crucial transcription factor, Satb2, in the development of the brain’s neocortex, which is important for various cognitive functions. Mutations in the SATB2 gene in humans are linked to a condition known as SATB2 Associated Syndrome (SAS), which can cause epilepsy, learning difficulties, and facial…

Theta-burst stimulation (TBS) is an innovative brain stimulation technique that mimics natural brain rhythms and shows promise in treating various neurological and psychiatric disorders. Interestingly, while TBS has gained attention, the precise mechanism of how it works in the human brain has remained somewhat of a mystery. Researchers recently dove into this by studying ten…

Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by sudden and unpredictable seizures, and understanding the mechanisms behind these episodes has long posed a challenge for scientists. Researchers have turned to dynamical systems theory, which helps us grasp how seemingly stable systems, like the brain, can suddenly shift into chaotic states, such as seizures. This study explored…