RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Epilepsy in Small-World Networks
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 8075
OP 8083
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1509-04.2004
VO 24
IS 37
A1 Netoff, Theoden I.
A1 Clewley, Robert
A1 Arno, Scott
A1 Keck, Tara
A1 White, John A.
YR 2004
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/24/37/8075.abstract
AB In hippocampal slice models of epilepsy, two behaviors are seen: short bursts of electrical activity lasting 100 msec and seizure-like electrical activity lasting seconds. The bursts originate from the CA3 region, where there is a high degree of recurrent excitatory connections. Seizures originate from the CA1, where there are fewer recurrent connections. In attempting to explain this behavior, we simulated model networks of excitatory neurons using several types of model neurons. The model neurons were connected in a ring containing predominantly local connections and some long-distance random connections, resulting in a small-world network connectivity pattern. By changing parameters such as the synaptic strengths, number of synapses per neuron, proportion of local versus long-distance connections, we induced “normal,” “seizing,” and “bursting” behaviors. Based on these simulations, we made a simple mathematical description of these networks under well-defined assumptions. This mathematical description explains how specific changes in the topology or synaptic strength in the model cause transitions from normal to seizing and then to bursting. These behaviors appear to be general properties of excitatory networks.