Limbic kindling and animal behavior--implications for human psychopathology associated with complex partial seizures. 1983

R E Adamec, and C Stark-Adamec

The latest thinking concerning the neural mechanisms of limbic kindling is briefly reviewed. It is proposed that three types of lasting neural changes accompany the increases in epileptogenicity resulting from repetitive electrical stimulation of the limbic system in animals. Two of these, long-lasting synaptic potentiation and increased susceptibility to failure, under high drive, of neurotransmitter systems antagonistic to seizure expression, are proposed to underly the lasting interictally maintained changes in species-characteristic behavior in animals. It is proposed that similar processes may occur in some humans afflicted with complex partial epilepsy, and that these processes could explain the paradoxical relationship between seizures and psychopathology.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007696 Kindling, Neurologic The repeated weak excitation of brain structures, that progressively increases sensitivity to the same stimulation. Over time, this can lower the threshold required to trigger seizures. Kindlings, Neurologic,Neurologic Kindling,Neurologic Kindlings
D008032 Limbic System A set of forebrain structures common to all mammals that is defined functionally and anatomically. It is implicated in the higher integration of visceral, olfactory, and somatic information as well as homeostatic responses including fundamental survival behaviors (feeding, mating, emotion). For most authors, it includes the AMYGDALA; EPITHALAMUS; GYRUS CINGULI; hippocampal formation (see HIPPOCAMPUS); HYPOTHALAMUS; PARAHIPPOCAMPAL GYRUS; SEPTAL NUCLEI; anterior nuclear group of thalamus, and portions of the basal ganglia. (Parent, Carpenter's Human Neuroanatomy, 9th ed, p744; NeuroNames, http://rprcsgi.rprc.washington.edu/neuronames/index.html (September 2, 1998)). Limbic Systems,System, Limbic,Systems, Limbic
D009434 Neural Pathways Neural tracts connecting one part of the nervous system with another. Neural Interconnections,Interconnection, Neural,Interconnections, Neural,Neural Interconnection,Neural Pathway,Pathway, Neural,Pathways, Neural
D009435 Synaptic Transmission The communication from a NEURON to a target (neuron, muscle, or secretory cell) across a SYNAPSE. In chemical synaptic transmission, the presynaptic neuron releases a NEUROTRANSMITTER that diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to specific synaptic receptors, activating them. The activated receptors modulate specific ion channels and/or second-messenger systems in the postsynaptic cell. In electrical synaptic transmission, electrical signals are communicated as an ionic current flow across ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Neural Transmission,Neurotransmission,Transmission, Neural,Transmission, Synaptic
D011599 Psychopathology The study of significant causes and processes in the development of mental illness.
D001931 Brain Mapping Imaging techniques used to colocalize sites of brain functions or physiological activity with brain structures. Brain Electrical Activity Mapping,Functional Cerebral Localization,Topographic Brain Mapping,Brain Mapping, Topographic,Functional Cerebral Localizations,Mapping, Brain,Mapping, Topographic Brain
D002415 Cats The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801) Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D004558 Electric Stimulation Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses. Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D004565 Electroconvulsive Therapy Electrically induced CONVULSIONS primarily used in the treatment of severe AFFECTIVE DISORDERS and SCHIZOPHRENIA. Convulsive Therapy, Electric,ECT (Psychotherapy),Electroshock Therapy,Shock Therapy, Electric,Convulsive Therapies, Electric,Electric Convulsive Therapies,Electric Convulsive Therapy,Electric Shock Therapies,Electric Shock Therapy,Electroconvulsive Therapies,Electroshock Therapies,Shock Therapies, Electric,Therapies, Electric Convulsive,Therapies, Electric Shock,Therapies, Electroconvulsive,Therapies, Electroshock,Therapy, Electric Convulsive,Therapy, Electric Shock,Therapy, Electroconvulsive,Therapy, Electroshock
D004833 Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe A localization-related (focal) form of epilepsy characterized by recurrent seizures that arise from foci within the TEMPORAL LOBE, most commonly from its mesial aspect. A wide variety of psychic phenomena may be associated, including illusions, hallucinations, dyscognitive states, and affective experiences. The majority of complex partial seizures (see EPILEPSY, COMPLEX PARTIAL) originate from the temporal lobes. Temporal lobe seizures may be classified by etiology as cryptogenic, familial, or symptomatic. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p321). Epilepsy, Benign Psychomotor, Childhood,Benign Psychomotor Epilepsy, Childhood,Childhood Benign Psychomotor Epilepsy,Epilepsy, Lateral Temporal,Epilepsy, Uncinate,Epilepsies, Lateral Temporal,Epilepsies, Temporal Lobe,Epilepsies, Uncinate,Lateral Temporal Epilepsies,Lateral Temporal Epilepsy,Temporal Lobe Epilepsies,Temporal Lobe Epilepsy,Uncinate Epilepsies,Uncinate Epilepsy

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