Reorganization in the Epileptic Brain

The 2012 Gordon Conference on Mechanisms of Epilepsy and Neuronal Synchronization will present cutting edge research on the theme of reorganization in the epileptic brain. The issues will be addressed at multiple levels, from cellular and molecular to circuits and networks. The focus will be on three important and persistent questions in the epilepsy field. What are the mechanisms underlying acute seizures? What progressive changes in brain organization and function lead to the chronic condition of epilepsy? What are the relationships between the mechanisms of epilepsy and the co-morbidities that are frequently encountered in this disorder? These questions will be considered specifically in sessions devoted to epileptogenesis, seizure generation, and developmental epilepsies and their co-morbidities. The issues raised during these sessions, including the reorganization of neural circuits in epilepsy, will be further developed in sessions that focus on exciting new methods of circuit analysis and their application in epilepsy research; mechanisms associated with reorganization of interneurons and alterations in chloride homeostasis; and the reorganization of several ion channels that could suggest targets for therapy. The purpose of the Conference is to bring together specialists from multiple disciplines to discuss the complex issues that arise in the processes of seizure generation and progression. It is expected that the exchange of new ideas will influence the critical next stage of experimental epilepsy research.

The collegial atmosphere of the Conference, with expanded Poster Sessions for all attendees, as well as opportunities for informal gatherings in the afternoons and evenings, will provide opportunities for scientists to brainstorm and promote increased interactions among investigators in diverse areas of basic epilepsy research.