EEG-desynchronization as the major mechanism of anti-epileptic action of vagal nerve stimulation in patients with intractable seizures: Clinical neurophysiological evidence

Summary Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) has emerged as an effective and acceptable alternative therapy for patients with intractable seizures. Despite its reported efficacy in several studies, the precise mechanism of its anti-epileptic action remains elusive and requires to be established. Based on n...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical hypotheses 2010-05, Vol.74 (5), p.855-856
Main Author: Jaseja, Harinder
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cortical Synchronization
Humans
Internal Medicine
Models, Neurological
Seizures - therapy
Vagus Nerve Stimulation - methods
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Summary:Summary Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) has emerged as an effective and acceptable alternative therapy for patients with intractable seizures. Despite its reported efficacy in several studies, the precise mechanism of its anti-epileptic action remains elusive and requires to be established. Based on neurophysiological alterations induced by VNS, it has been proposed earlier that a major mechanism of its anti-epileptic action could be EEG-desynchronization, which is known to be associated with increased resistance to seizures. This brief paper attempts to support the proposed mechanism with clinical neurophysiological evidence that has emerged in recent times.
ISSN:0306-9877
1532-2777
DOI:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.11.031