Great Domains (From Individual to Social Cognition)

Epilepsy and Neuropsychiatric Comorbidities.

e-Team: Julian Tejada, Luz Cusi Huanca, Nohelya Torres Collantes, Bety Guzman, Carlos Medina, Paola Oruro, Luis Pacheco Otarola, Enver Oruro and Norberto Garcia-Cairasco.  

Introduction

Epilepsy is no longer understood as a disorder confined to isolated brain regions. Instead, it is increasingly seen as the result of complex interactions across widespread neural networks that operate at multiple levels, from molecular and cellular changes to large-scale patterns of brain activity. This complexity is reflected in the variety of clinical presentations, the frequent co-occurrence with other neurological and psychiatric conditions, and the persistent challenge of treatment-resistant cases. Recent advances in neuroscience have opened new avenues to explore epilepsy through the lens of systems theory, morphodynamic plasticity, and computational modeling. During the seminar, we discussed two major challenges for advancing this field, which we develop below. These challenges reflect a shared commitment to building integrative models that connect structural and functional changes in epilepsy, offering new insights into its mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies. 

Main Challenges

1. Approaching epilepsy as a complex system

2. Integrating Morphodynamics and Complexity Methods in Epilepsy

Recommended Literature 

Servilha-Menezes, G., Talevi, A., Garcia-Cairasco, N. (2023). On Complexity and Emergence: Linking the Hypotheses of Pharmacoresistance in Epilepsy. In: Rocha, L.L., Lazarowski, A., Cavalheiro, E.A. (eds) Pharmacoresistance in Epilepsy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36526-3_4

Bertti, P., Tejada, J., Martins, A. P., Dal-Cól, M. L., Terra, V. C., de Oliveira, J. A., Velasco, T. R., Sakamoto, A. C., & Garcia-Cairasco, N. (2014). Looking for complexity in quantitative semiology of frontal and temporal lobe seizures using neuroethology and graph theory. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 38, 81–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2014.07.025

Tejada, J., Garcia-Cairasco, N., & Roque, A. C. (2014). Combined role of seizure-induced dendritic morphology alterations and spine loss in newborn granule cells with mossy fiber sprouting on the hyperexcitability of a computer model of the dentate gyrus. PLoS computational biology, 10(5), e1003601. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003601

Tejada, J., Costa, K. M., Bertti, P., & Garcia-Cairasco, N. (2013). The epilepsies: complex challenges needing complex solutions. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 26(3), 212–228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2012.09.029

Garcia-Cairasco N. (2009). Puzzling challenges in contemporary neuroscience: insights from complexity and emergence in epileptogenic circuits. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 14 Suppl 1, 54–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2008.09.010