MODELS IN THE MONKEY OF GENERALIZED SEIZURES OF THE ABSENCE TYPE

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Generalized seizure activity with the electrographic appearance of absence epilepsy (bilaterally symmetrical and synchronous paroxysmal three-per-second spike and wave discharges) can be elicited in the monkey by a variety of methods. These include electrical stimulation of various locations within the brain, injection of convulsant drugs and other substances, and administration of compounds which may alter normal inhibitory mechanisms within the cell. Model seizure states created in these ways are studied in order to test hypotheses about pathophysiological seizure mechanisms, sensory processing and attentional capacities during absence seizures, effects of spike- wave activity on cellular activity, and effects of techniques or maneuvers which may modify or reduce convulsive activity. Most recently this project has involved the following work: we studied the behavioral and electrographic effects of a GABA-enhancer and surveyed the attention-related cells in the frontal lobes of the monkey. Other studies of "attention" cells in inferior parietal and preoccipital cortex have been completed as well.