Graduation Year
2022
Date of Submission
4-2022
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Neuroscience
Second Department
Mathematical Sciences
Reader 1
John Milton
Reader 2
Michael Spezio
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
2022 Sophia E Epstein
Abstract
The majority of seizures are self-limiting. Within a few minutes, the observed neuronal synchrony and deviant dynamics of a tonic-clonic or generalized seizure often terminate. However, a small epilesia partialis continua can occur for years. The mechanisms that regulate subcortical activity of neuronal firing and seizure control are poorly understood. Published studies, however, through PET scans, ketogenic treatments, and in vivo mouse experiments, observe hypermetabolism followed by metabolic suppression. These observations indicate that energy can play a key role in mediating seizure dynamics. In this research, I seek to explore this hypothesis and propose a mathematical framework to model how energy may limit seizure propagation. Expanding upon existing models of neuronal spiking and energy consumption, the model accounts for change in available energy over time. The results of this model indicate constrained energy consumption is a plausible mechanism for mediating seizure termination.
Recommended Citation
Epstein, Sophia E., "Energy as a Limiting Factor in Neuronal Seizure Control: A Mathematical Model" (2022). CMC Senior Theses. 3060.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/3060
Included in
Computational Neuroscience Commons, Dynamical Systems Commons, Systems Neuroscience Commons
