Hyperexcitability of the network contributes to synchronization processes in the human epileptic neocortex

摘要

Key points class="unordered" style="list-style-type:disc" id="tjp12733-list-0001">Hyperexcitability and hypersynchrony of neuronal networks are thought to be linked to the generation of epileptic activity in both humans and animal models.Here we show that human epileptic postoperative neocortical tissue is able to generate two different types of synchronies in vitro.Epileptiform bursts occurred only in slices derived from epileptic patients and were hypersynchronous events characterized by high levels of excitability.Spontaneous population activity emerged in both epileptic and non‐epileptic tissue, with a significantly lower degree of excitability and synchrony, and could not be linked to epilepsy.These results help us to understand better the role of excitatory and inhibitory neuronal circuits in the generation of population events, and to define the subtle border between physiological and pathological synchronies.