Chapter 22
Predicting Epileptic Seizures—An
Update
Klaus Lehnertz
Abstract Epilepsy is a malfunction of the brain that affects about 0.8% of the world
population. Epileptic seizures are the cardinal symptom of the disease and are usually
related to an overly synchronized firing of neurons, as reflected by oscillations on the
electroencephalogram (EEG). Seizures often appear as a transformation of otherwise
normal brain rhythms, and the exact mechanisms underlying seizure generation are
still as uncertain as are mechanisms underlying seizure spreading and termination.
Identifying precursors of seizures from brain dynamics could drastically improve
therapeutic possibilities and thus, the quality of life of people with epilepsy. Over
the last three decades, an improved characterization of the complex spatial-temporal
dynamics of the epileptic brain could be achieved with methods from nonlinear
dynamics, statistical physics, synchronization and network theory. These methods are
capable of identifying seizure precursors from EEG recordings in a large number of
subjects and with high sensitivity and specificity. This chapter provides an overview
of the progress that has been made in the field: from preliminary descriptions of
preseizure phenomena to implantable seizure prediction and prevention systems.
22.1 Introduction
Epilepsy is a group of neurological disorders that is characterized by more than 15
different seizure types and over 30 epilepsy syndromes [20]. It is defined as a disorder
of the brain characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures
and by the neurobiologic, cognitive, psychological, and social consequences of this
condition [43]. An epileptic seizure is defined as a transient occurrence of signs
and/or symptoms due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the
brain [40, 43]. It may be accompanied by an impairment or loss of consciousness,
psychic, autonomic or sensory symptoms, or motor phenomena. Generalized-onset
K. Lehnertz (B)
Department of Epileptology and Helmholtz Institute for Radiation and Nuclear Physics and
Interdisciplinary Centre for Complex Systems, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
e-mail: klaus.lehnertz@ukbonn.de
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
A. Stefanovska and P. V. E. McClintock (eds.), Physics of Biological
Oscillators, Understanding Complex Systems,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59805-1_22
345
Predicting Epileptic Seizures—An
Update
Klaus Lehnertz
Abstract Epilepsy is a malfunction of the brain that affects about 0.8% of the world
population. Epileptic seizures are the cardinal symptom of the disease and are usually
related to an overly synchronized firing of neurons, as reflected by oscillations on the
electroencephalogram (EEG). Seizures often appear as a transformation of otherwise
normal brain rhythms, and the exact mechanisms underlying seizure generation are
still as uncertain as are mechanisms underlying seizure spreading and termination.
Identifying precursors of seizures from brain dynamics could drastically improve
therapeutic possibilities and thus, the quality of life of people with epilepsy. Over
the last three decades, an improved characterization of the complex spatial-temporal
dynamics of the epileptic brain could be achieved with methods from nonlinear
dynamics, statistical physics, synchronization and network theory. These methods are
capable of identifying seizure precursors from EEG recordings in a large number of
subjects and with high sensitivity and specificity. This chapter provides an overview
of the progress that has been made in the field: from preliminary descriptions of
preseizure phenomena to implantable seizure prediction and prevention systems.
22.1 Introduction
Epilepsy is a group of neurological disorders that is characterized by more than 15
different seizure types and over 30 epilepsy syndromes [20]. It is defined as a disorder
of the brain characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures
and by the neurobiologic, cognitive, psychological, and social consequences of this
condition [43]. An epileptic seizure is defined as a transient occurrence of signs
and/or symptoms due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the
brain [40, 43]. It may be accompanied by an impairment or loss of consciousness,
psychic, autonomic or sensory symptoms, or motor phenomena. Generalized-onset
K. Lehnertz (B)
Department of Epileptology and Helmholtz Institute for Radiation and Nuclear Physics and
Interdisciplinary Centre for Complex Systems, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
e-mail: klaus.lehnertz@ukbonn.de
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
A. Stefanovska and P. V. E. McClintock (eds.), Physics of Biological
Oscillators, Understanding Complex Systems,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59805-1_22
345