event
Monday 27 Feb 2017: Dynamics Seminar: Neurostimulations for diagnostic and therapy in epilepsy: from "in silico" models to "in vivo" applications
Fabrice Wendling - Universite de Rennes 1
Harrison 106 14:30-15:30
Speakers : Fabrice Wendling (Part 1: diagnostic) and Julien Modolo (Part 2: therapy)
Lab : INSERM, Universite de Rennes 1, LTSI, Rennes, F-35000, France
Abstract:
Part 1: Neurostimulations can be used to probe neuronal circuits. Using a computational modeling approach in combination with in vivo and in vitro electrophysiological recordings, we showed that extracellular local bipolar stimulation at low intensity allows preferential activation of GABAergic interneurons. From this procedure, we devised a quantitative index that reflects the excitability of locally-stimulated neuronal networks (the neuronal network excitability index or NNEI). The NNEI is computed from stimulation-induced responses recorded as extracellular signals (Local Field Potentials, LFPs) evoked with optimally-tuned intensity and frequency parameters. The proposed probing method has implication not only for basic neuroscience but also with respect to clinical applications as the NNEI can be used to identify hyperexcitable brain regions in patients with focal epilepsy.
Part 2: Neurostimulations are also an emerging treatment for drug-resistant epilepsies. However the mechanisms underlying this therapeutic effect are largely unknown. We studied the effects of local direct current stimulation (LDCS) effects on hyperexcitable tissue, by i) analyzing the impact of electrical currents locally applied on epileptogenic brain regions, and ii) characterizing currents achieving an “anti-epileptic” effect (excitability reduction). First, a neural mass model of hippocampal circuits was extended to accurately reproduce the features of hippocampal paroxysmal discharges (HPDs) observed in a mouse model of epilepsy. Second, model predictions regarding current intensity and stimulation polarity were confronted to in vivo mice recordings during LDCS. Simulations showed that significant decrease of simulated HPDs (in duration and occurrence rate, not in amplitude) could be obtained for specific configurations (electrode position, polarity, intensity). Predictions were successfully verified experimentally in epileptic mice. Results provide support for further model-guided design of neuromodulation therapy.
