Control of epileptic seizures: Models of chaotic oscillator networks

In an effort to understand basic functional mechanisms that can produce epileptic seizures, and strategies for seizure suppression and control, we discuss some key features of theoretical models of networks of coupled chaotic oscillators that produce seizure-like events and bear striking similarities to dynamics of epileptic seizures. We show that a plausible cause of seizures is a pathological feedback in the brain circuitry. These results have interesting physical interpretation and implications for treatment of epilepsy. They also have close ties with a variety of recent practical observations in the human and animal epileptic brain, and with theories from adaptive systems, optimization, and chaos.