Seizure intervention via diffusion mechanisms

TL;DR

This paper links neuronal dynamics to diffusion processes and proposes seizure intervention strategies by modulating diffusivity, suggesting that mirroring activity in surrounding regions can stabilize unstable neural states.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach connecting neuronal state equations to the Fokker-Planck equation and proposes diffusion-based seizure intervention methods.

Findings

Decreasing diffusivity stabilizes neuronal systems.

Mirroring activity in neighboring regions can suppress seizures.

Tuning diffusivity can control oscillatory epileptic activity.

Abstract

We begin by demonstrating that the neuronal state equation from Dynamic Causal Modelling takes on the form of the discretized Fokker-Planck equation upon the inclusion of local activity gradients within a network. Using the Jacobian of this modified neuronal state equation, we show that an initially unstable system can be rendered stable via a decrease in diffusivity. Therefore, if a node within the system is known to be unstable due to a tendency toward epileptic seizures for example, then our results indicate that intervention techniques should take the counter-intuitive approach of mirroring activity in the nodes immediately surrounding a pathological region - effectively fighting seizures with seizures. Finally, using a two-region system as an example, we show that one can also tune diffusivity in such a way as to allow for the suppression of oscillatory activity during epileptic seizures.