There is a lot of controversial finding on how
epileptic activities (seizures and interictal epileptiform discharge) affect
cognition in both animals and humans. Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is
one of the most common forms of epilepsy and is particularly resistant to
current medications and surgeries. Although MTLE is generally characterized by
memory deficits and impairments, the exact pathophysiology of this side effect
of seizures is not well known. Here we propose to use a model of
penicillin-induced temporal lobe epilepsy in monkey to study the effect of
seizures on short and long term memory. The animal was first trained to do a
Visual Paired Comparison task and an eye tracker was used to measure the amount
of time that the animal spent looking at a new object vs. an old one. Sleep
disturbances are also a common side effect of MTLE. To quantify the changes
induced by the seizures in our model, we recorded the EEG activity of the
animal at night before and after seizures induction, using a telemetry system.
This new model of temporal lobe seizures in monkeys could help us develop new
therapy, give us new inside on MTLE seizures, but could also help us better
understand the mechanisms of the side effect of seizures.