COMPUTER-MODEL OF ANTIEPILEPTIC EFFECTS MEDIATED BY ALTERATIONS IN GABA(A)-MEDIATED INHIBITION

RESULTS from a computer model of a thalamic network predict that agent s augmenting GABAA-mediated inhibition in the reticular thalamic (RE) nucleus will be antiepileptic or desynchronizing. This provides suppor t for the hypothesis that antiepileptics like benzodiazepines may exer t their effects through an isolated increase of inhibition in the RE n ucleus. When desynchronized, the model thalamocortical neurons showed a decreased probability of firing a low threshold spike, a decreased s econdary inhibitory postsynaptic potential and a higher frequency of o scillations. The transition to desynchrony was also accompanied by an increased frequency in the firing of the model RE neurons.