Animal models of epilepsy have helped to advance the understanding of how normal brains develop epilepsy (a process known as Epileptogenesis), and have been used in pre-clinical trials of antiepileptic drugs.[1] Epilepsy is a set of syndromes which have in common a predisposition to recurrent epileptic seizures.[2] Animal models of epilepsy and seizures can be divided into three basic categories: genetic animal models, chemically induced models, and electrically induced models.[3] New models are using light-gated ion channels to turn on cell firing and these are part of optogenetic induction models of epilepsy.[4]
^Sarkisian, Matthew R. (31 May 2001). "Overview of the Current Animal Models for Human Seizure and Epileptic Disorders". Epilepsy & Behavior. 2 (3): 201–216. doi:10.1006/ebeh.2001.0193. PMID12609365.
^Chang, Bernard S.; Lowenstein, Daniel H. (25 September 2003). "Epilepsy". New England Journal of Medicine. 349 (13): 1257–1266. doi:10.1056/NEJMra022308. PMID14507951.