Epileptogenesis and Plasticity

During epileptogenesis, many plastic changes occur that could contribute to the progression of the disease. Although some of the factors observed in animal models of temporal lobe epilepsy resemble events that also occur during long-term potentiation, most changes clearly show an abnormal and pathologic form of plasticity. In several instances, there appears to be a recapitulation of a developmental program, cell outgrowth, and neurogenesis. However, many changes are also associated with inflammation and region- and cell type-specific death; both these factors could contribute to seizure progression.