ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the results of groups that have demonstrated and analysed the suppression of epileptic activity in vitro with electrical fields. The effect of long-duration low amplitude pulse, short-duration high amplitude single pulse, chaos control, and periodic low or high frequency electrical stimulation on the suppression of neural activity is reviewed. The effects of localized constant (DC) electrical fields have been tested on three in vitro models of epilepsy: penicillin, high potassium, and low calcium. Although both local and uniform DC field techniques can clearly suppress neuronal activity, these methods require that the electrical field is applied continuously. Low amplitude DC fields, applied both locally and globally can effectively suppress neuronal activity in every model of epilepsy tested. Clinically, high frequency stimulation of deep brain structures, like the subthalamic nucleus, mimics the effect of lesioning that same structure, suggesting that electrical stimulation is suppressing neuronal activity.
