Neuroplasticity in Epilepsy

The main goals of the study of epilepsy are to 1) to understand the underlying injury- or genetic-induced changes in brain function linking a brain perturbation to the subsequent processes that generate an increase in seizure predisposition (epileptogenesis), as well as 2) identify the mechanisms underlying synchronous electrical discharges in neuronal networks (seizure generation). Both of these processes involve plastic changes in neuron and/or circuit behavior, which is the theme of the 2008 Conference, Neuroplasticity in Epilepsy. A better understanding of both epileptogenesis and seizure generation are necessary in order to develop more effective and less toxic treatments and cures for epilepsy. A unique, intellectually challenging aspect of epilepsy research arises from the fact that it encompasses virtually all major levels of biological organization, from genes and ion channels to circuits and behavior. The major purpose of this Gordon conference is to bring together neurophysiologists, molecular biologists, geneticists, developmental neuroscientists, and neuroanatomists working on basic mechanisms related either directly or indirectly to seizure generation to synthesize current advances and to set the stage for future discoveries.

In addition to our invited speakers at the main meeting, 8 short talks will be selected from submitted abstracts, one to two weeks prior to the start of the meeting.