Revolution in the fight against epilepsy: Ki decrypt our memory!

Revolution in the fight against epilepsy: Ki decrypt our memory!

An interdisciplinary research team led by Prof. Florian Mormann from the Clinic for Epileptology at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) is currently dealing with the memory processes in the human brain. This study uses innovative techniques to better understand the complex mechanisms of memory formation. As part of the examination, electrodes are used, which are normally implanted to treat difficult to treat epilepsy in order to record neuronal activity. The team was able to gain insight into the way the brain stores the order of pictures.

The participants, all people with epilepsy, carried out a note. In the meantime, the activity of her neurons was closely monitored. The results were surprising and contradicted classic theories: the cell responses in the brain do not match the sequence of the images presented. Dr. Stefanie Lieben, first author of the study, commented on the knowledge and emphasized that this new perspective on memory is challenging previous research.

interdisciplinary cooperation and AI use

An important aspect of the study is close cooperation with Matthijs Pals and Jakob Macke from the “Machine Learning” of the University of Tübingen. Together they use methods of artificial intelligence to simulate a neural network that shows similar activity patterns as the human brain. This approach has the potential to uncover alternative mechanisms to memory of sequences. The interaction of image presentations, brain vibrations and cell signals could provide new insights into the memory function of the brain.

The combination of neural records and AI thus creates new opportunities for researching complex brain functions. This is particularly relevant, since according to srf.ch about every third person with epilepsy on the common medicines appeals.

digital models and their potentials

In Switzerland, around 80,000 people live with epilepsy, and many of them rely on surgical interventions to remove the epileptogenic stove in the brain. However, this procedure requires precise localization of the stove, which is supported by various data sources. The use of high -resolution MRIs and brain current recordings is necessary, since current methods can only correctly identify the origin of epileptogenic activities in about 60% of the patients.

researchers like Viktor Jirsa from the Université d’Aix-Marseille are therefore developing increasingly personalized brain models that act as digital twins. These mathematical representations of an individual brain are based on specific patient data and use algorithms to simulate the functioning and networking of the brain. Lukas Imbach from the Swiss Epilepsy Center sees great potential in these models, especially for operational planning. A clinical study that has been running in 13 epilepsy centers in France since 2019 tests these new techniques with almost 400 participants. First results are expected at the end of 2024.

Overall, the research of Prof. Mormann and others illustrates the diverse challenges and opportunities in epilepsy research. By combining innovative technologies and interdisciplinary approaches, new hope for affected patients can be developed.