Neural circuit mechanisms of epilepsy: Maintenance of homeostasis at the cellular, synaptic, and neurotransmitter levels.

Abstract

Epilepsy, a common neurological disorder, is characterized by recurrent seizures that can lead to cognitive, psychological, and neurobiological consequences. The pathogenesis of epilepsy involves neuronal dysfunction at the molecular, cellular, and neural circuit levels. Abnormal molecular signaling pathways or dysfunction of specific cell types can lead to epilepsy by disrupting the normal functioning of neural circuits. The continuous emergence of new technologies and the rapid advancement of existing ones have facilitated the discovery and comprehensive understanding of the neural circuit mechanisms underlying epilepsy. Therefore, this review aims to investigate the current understanding of the neural circuit mechanisms in epilepsy based on various technologies, including electroencephalography, magnetic resonance imaging, optogenetics, chemogenetics, deep brain stimulation, and brain-computer interfaces. Additionally, this review discusses these mechanisms from three perspectives: structural, synaptic, and transmitter circuits. The findings reveal that the neural circuit mechanisms of epilepsy encompass information transmission among different structures, interactions within the same structure, and the maintenance of homeostasis at the cellular, synaptic, and neurotransmitter levels. These findings offer new insights for investigating the pathophysiological mechanisms of epilepsy and enhancing its clinical diagnosis and treatment.