Online Archive of University of Virginia Scholarship
Midline Thalamic Neurons Show Early Hypersynchrony During Absence Seizures in Mouse Models94 views
Author
Dulko, Elzbieta, Neuroscience - School of Medicine, University of Virginia0000-0001-5238-0509
Advisors
Beenhakker, Mark, MD-PHAR Pharmacology, University of Virginia
Abstract
Generalized seizures reflect a pathological state of sudden, global neuronal hypersynchrony. The mechanisms that support the initiation and maintenance of such synchrony remain unknown. Using simultaneous single-unit and electrocorticographic recordings in two mouse models of absence epilepsy, activity of approximately 2,000 individual neurons across 26 brain structures was evaluated. The temporal progression of single-neuron activity before and during generalized seizures was thereby resolved. Surprisingly, rhythmic, synchronized activity was found to emerge early and gradually in both the thalamus and cortex. Moreover, although rhythmic and synchronous firing was observed in individual neurons across most brain structures during seizures, a small subset of midline thalamic nuclei exhibited activity that was strongly correlated across multiple regions. Finally, disruption of neuronal activity within the midline thalamus was found to terminate seizures. Collectively, these findings highlight a potential role for the midline thalamus in the emergence of neuronal hypersynchrony.
Dulko, Elzbieta. Midline Thalamic Neurons Show Early Hypersynchrony During Absence Seizures in Mouse Models. University of Virginia, Neuroscience - School of Medicine, PHD (Doctor of Philosophy), 2026-09-16, https://doi.org/10.18130/dqav-py31.
