Epilepsy: a network disorder

Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder. It presents with seizures which manifest as a combination of abnormal movements and sensory perceptions. Seizures result from an abnormal electrical activity that starts in one region of the brain and spreads rapidly to surrounding areas. These seizures are recurrent, unpredictable and stereotyped. Hence specific neuronal circuits in the brain are repeatedly affected, creating aberrant networks. This has been shown to result in poor treatment outcomes. Hence this thesis implores a paradigm shift in evaluating epilepsy from a “Focus based disorder” to a “Network Based Disorder”.