How seizures that start in the hippocampus affect the rest of the brain
Official title: Remote effects of focal hippocampal seizures on neocortical function
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11235095 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether hippocampal seizures reduce brain arousal and slow outer-brain activity in people with temporal lobe epilepsy and whether stimulating arousal centers can help restore awareness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2011 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $416,894 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS066974-14 |
| Project ID | NIH-11235095 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with temporal lobe (focal) epilepsy who experience seizures that cause impaired consciousness would be the most relevant candidates for future treatments arising from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose seizures are generalized, originate outside the temporal lobe, or whose symptoms are not related to seizure‑induced loss of arousal are less likely to benefit from these specific findings.
What this research studies
This work looks at why seizures beginning in the hippocampus can cause loss of consciousness by producing slow activity and reduced blood flow in the neocortex. Scientists use animal models, including a novel awake head-fixed mouse model and prior rat studies, to record EEG, blood flow, and neural signals during focal limbic seizures. They examine how seizures suppress subcortical arousal systems and test whether stimulating those arousal centers can bring back normal cortical activity and behavior. The aim is to identify the circuits and mechanisms so that targeted treatments such as neurostimulation might be developed for people with temporal lobe epilepsy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new therapies (for example, targeted neurostimulation) to restore awareness and reduce disability during temporal lobe seizures.
How similar studies have gone: Animal studies have already shown that stimulating subcortical arousal centers can restore cortical activity and behavior during seizures, but translating these results to effective human treatments remains early and unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blumenfeld, Hal — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Blumenfeld, Hal
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.