Genetics of Epilepsy

Abstract

Epilepsy, characterized primarily by seizures, is one of the most common forms of neurological dysfunction in humans. This dissertation will explore the genetic components and responses to seizures in both animal and human models. This will encompass different forms of seizure etiology including genetically derived channelopathies leading to generalized seizures as well as temporal lobe epilepsy with a wide rage of etiologies. Specific attention is paid to changes in the transcriptional profile of the hippocampus in these various forms of epilepsy before and after seizure activity.