Epilepsy pathophysiology

Question 1

The circuits involved in epilepsy often subserve _____ functions

Answer 1

normal

Question 2

Much more _____ occurs than ____ in seizures, with the primary NT being ____-

Answer 2

excitation; inhibition; Glutamate

Question 3

What is a paroxysmal depolarizing shift?

Answer 3

Sustained depolarizations due to an influx of calcium resulting in bursts of action potentials

Question 4

What is the cellular correlate of the interictal?

Answer 4

It is a spike or shockwave in the EEG

Question 5

Structural lesions tend to cause _____ seizures

Answer 5

focal

Question 6

There is a prolonged _____ following a paroxysmal depolarizing shift

Answer 6

hyperpolarization

Question 7

With sustained firing, excitatory signals ___ together while inhibitory signals ______

Answer 7

sum; decline

Question 8

Sustained repetitive firings (SRFs) do not depend on Ca2+ channels like ___ does

Answer 8

PDS

Question 9

SRFs can be effectively stopped by what?

Answer 9

Voltage dependent sodium channel blockers

Question 10

Generalized seizures tend to involve which structure?

Answer 10

Thalamus

Question 11

T-type calcium channels are activated during thalamus _____

Answer 11

hyperpolarization

Question 12

_____ channel blockers are effective in blocking certain generalized childhood seizures such as absence

Answer 12

T-type

Question 13

All the drugs we have today only stop the _____; they don’t cure the epilepsy

Answer 13

seizure

Question 14

There is an ____ ____ between the initial event and the onset of epilepsy

Answer 14

latent period

Question 15

Inflammation with ____ cells and _____ can be a major cause of epilepsy

Answer 15

glial; cytokines

Question 16

Seizures and depression may be related through a defect in which NT?

Answer 16

Serotonin

Question 17

Immature brains may have more seizures because there is a natural ____ between ___ and ____

Answer 17

imbalance; excitation and inhibition

Question 18

AEDs work by modulating ______ and _____ to increase inhibition and decrease excitation

Answer 18

channels; receptors

Question 19

PDS and SRF is involved with what type of seizure?

Answer 19

Focal

Question 20

GABA is _____ at the beginning of life

Answer 20

excitatory