How serotonin helps wake up and recover after seizures
Serotonergic circuit mechanisms in postictal recovery and arousal
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · NIH-11235858
Looks at whether serotonin brain circuits control waking and breathing recovery after seizures in people with epilepsy who are at risk for sudden unexpected death.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF IOWA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (IOWA CITY, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11235858 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This work uses mouse models that mimic temporal lobe epilepsy and Dravet syndrome to study what happens to waking and breathing after seizures. Researchers will measure how rising CO2 after a seizure normally triggers arousal and whether that response is blunted in epilepsy models. They will focus on serotonin (5-HT) brain circuits that help drive arousal and breathing, comparing seizures that happen in different sleep states. The goal is to understand why some seizures fail to trigger recovery responses that protect against fatal outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with temporal lobe epilepsy or Dravet syndrome—especially those with seizures that cause breathing problems—are the clinical groups most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: People without epilepsy or those whose seizures do not affect breathing or arousal are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to ways to boost post-seizure arousal or breathing and thereby lower the risk of SUDEP in people with epilepsy.
How similar studies have performed: Prior mouse studies showed seizures can impair CO2-triggered arousal, but applying those findings to high-SUDEP-risk models and to human patients remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
IOWA CITY, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF IOWA — IOWA CITY, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BUCHANAN, GORDON F — UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- Study coordinator: BUCHANAN, GORDON F
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 below.