ReStore: A wireless peripheral nerve stimulation system.

Background: The growing use of neuromodulation techniques to treat neurological disorders has motivated efforts to improve on the safety and reliability of implantable nerve stimulators.

New Method: The present study describes the ReStore system, a miniature, implantable wireless nerve stimulator system that has no battery or leads and is constructed using commercial components and processes. The implant can be programmed wirelessly to deliver charge-balanced, biphasic current pulses of varying amplitudes, pulse widths, frequencies, and train durations.

Role of CA3 theta-modulated interneurons during the transition to spontaneous seizures.

Multiple studies have observed heterogeneous neuronal firing patterns as a local network transitions to spontaneous seizures. We demonstrated that separately examining interneurons and pyramidal cells during this transition in a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy elucidates some of this heterogeneity. Recently, it was demonstrated that classifying cells into specific theta-related subtypes further clarified the heterogeneity.

Neuronal synchrony and the transition to spontaneous seizures.

The role of inhibitory neuronal activity in the transition to seizure is unclear. On the one hand, seizures are associated with excessive neuronal activity that can spread across the brain, suggesting run-away excitation. On the other hand, recent in vitro studies suggest substantial activity of inhibitory interneurons prior to the onset of evoked seizure-like activity.