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The system epilepsies: A pathophysiological hypothesis

  1. Giuliano Avanzini1,
  2. Paolo Manganotti2,
  3. Stefano Meletti3,
  4. Solomon L. Moshé4,
  5. Ferruccio Panzica1,
  6. Peter Wolf5,
  7. Giuseppe Capovilla6

Article first published online: 25 APR 2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2012.03462.x

Issue

Epilepsia

Epilepsia

Volume 53, Issue 5, pages 771–778, May 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Avanzini, G., Manganotti, P., Meletti, S., Moshé, S. L., Panzica, F., Wolf, P. and Capovilla, G. (2012), The system epilepsies: A pathophysiological hypothesis. Epilepsia, 53: 771–778. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2012.03462.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Neurophysiology, IRCCS Foundation Neurological Institute “Carlo Besta,” Milano, Italy

  2. 2

    Department of Neurological, Neuropsychological, Morphological and Movements Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

  3. 3

    Department of Neuroscience, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy

  4. 4

    Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience and Department of Pediatrics, Laboratory of Developmental Epilepsy, Montefiore/Einstein Epilepsy Management Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, U.S.A.

  5. 5

    The Danish Epilepsy Center, Dianalund, Denmark

  6. 6

    Epilepsy Center, Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, C. Poma Hospital, Mantova, Italy

*Address correspondence to Giuliano Avanzini Department of Neurophysiology, Fondazione IRRCS, Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milano, Italy. E-mail: avanzini@istituto-besta.it

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 25 APR 2012
  2. Article first published online: 25 APR 2012
  3. Accepted February 23, 2012.

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Keywords:

  • Generalized epilepsies;
  • Focal epilepsies;
  • Neural systems;
  • Thalamo-cortical systems;
  • Cortico-cortical connections

Summary

We postulate that “system epilepsies” (SystE) are due to an enduring propensity to generate seizures of functionally characterized brain systems. Data supporting this hypothesis—that some types of epilepsy depend on the dysfunction of specific neural systems—are reviewed. The SystE hypothesis may drive pathophysiologic and clinical studies that can advance our understanding of epilepsies and can open up new therapeutic perspectives.

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