Article 3XR62 Implantable brain device could stop epileptic seizures in their tracks

Implantable brain device could stop epileptic seizures in their tracks

by
Jennifer Ouellette
from Ars Technica - All content on (#3XR62)
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Enlarge / Epileptic seizures occur when neurons start firing uncontrollably in a cascading snowball effect. (credit: Getty Images)

People who suffer severe epileptic seizures may one day be able to control or even prevent them with an electronic device implanted directly into the brain. An oncoming seizure would trigger the targeted release of a brain-signaling chemical to stop the seizure in its tracks, according to a new study published in Science Advances. The device has only been tested on mice so far, but the results look promising.

The brain is a noisy place, with tens of billions of neurons organized into a highly complex, interconnected network. Neurons fire and send electrical signals to neighboring neurons, encouraging them to fire in turn, thereby helping spread signals throughout the brain. In an epileptic seizure, that normal brain activity goes into overdrive, creating a cascading snowball effect that interferes with motor control and can lead to loss of consciousness.

Epilepsy is usually treated with anti-seizure drugs. These can have serious side effects, however, and roughly three out of 10 patients don't respond at all to the treatment. In those cases, brain implants may be the best option, such as Neuropace's brain implant, which earned FDA approval for clinical use for epilepsy in 2013.

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