Network inhibition hypothesis and predictions.
Prediction 1: Seizure activity in the hippocampus (HC) propagates (via fimbria-fornix, FF and other pathways) to increase activity in inhibitory and sleep-promoting regions such as the anterior hypothalamus (Hypothal) and lateral septum (LS); as a consequence, subcortical arousal systems including the thalamus, basal forebrain, pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPT), and other subcortical arousal systems show depressed activity. Prediction 2: Firing of identified arousal neurons, such as cholinergic neurons in PPT and basal forebrain, decreases during seizures. Prediction 3: Release of arousal neurotransmitters including acetylcholine (ACh) is decreased in both thalamus and cortex (Ctx). This in turn leads to decreased cortical arousal and slow-waves in the cortex.