Designing Patient-Specific Optimal Neurostimulation Patterns for Seizure Suppression

Neural Comput. 2018 May;30(5):1180-1208. doi: 10.1162/NECO_a_01075. Epub 2018 Mar 22.

Abstract

Neurostimulation is a promising therapy for abating epileptic seizures. However, it is extremely difficult to identify optimal stimulation patterns experimentally. In this study, human recordings are used to develop a functional 24 neuron network statistical model of hippocampal connectivity and dynamics. Spontaneous seizure-like activity is induced in silico in this reconstructed neuronal network. The network is then used as a testbed to design and validate a wide range of neurostimulation patterns. Commonly used periodic trains were not able to permanently abate seizures at any frequency. A simulated annealing global optimization algorithm was then used to identify an optimal stimulation pattern, which successfully abated 92% of seizures. Finally, in a fully responsive, or closed-loop, neurostimulation paradigm, the optimal stimulation successfully prevented the network from entering the seizure state. We propose that the framework presented here for algorithmically identifying patient-specific neurostimulation patterns can greatly increase the efficacy of neurostimulation devices for seizures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Electric Stimulation Therapy / methods*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Hippocampus / pathology*
  • Hippocampus / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Models, Neurological*
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Nonlinear Dynamics
  • Seizures / diagnostic imaging
  • Seizures / pathology*
  • Seizures / physiopathology
  • Seizures / therapy*