Physiological correlates of neuro- and magnetic stimulation in therapy of epilepsy

Abstract

In the literature survey, non-pharmaceutical methods of therapy of epilepsy are considered including electrostimulation of vagus nerve, exposure to magnetic field and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Correlates of the effectiveness of electro- and magnetic stimulation are electrophysiological parameters, clinical data and influence on the mental and cognitive functions. Use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in addition to antiepileptic drugs has a certain ground. According to modern understanding and the results of experimental studies, the mechanism of modulator inhibitory alterations is associated with a potential of TMS to cause long-term synaptic depression or long-term potentiation. These long-lasting phenomena probably underlie anticonvulsant effects of low frequency magnetic stimulation. Inclusion of physiologists and neurophysiologists into the research will permit to solve such an important problem as a study of physiological mechanisms of the effectiveness of non-pharmacological electro- and magnetic action in epilepsy.