Each year, more than 1 in 1000 epilepsy patients who were previously in good health die unexpectedly. Recent experimental evidence from humans and animal models suggests that many of these cases of sudden death in epilepsy (SUDEP) may result from abnormal breathing or apneas (lack of breathing) that precede cardiac arrest. Forebrain circuits have long been known to contribute to seizures and epileptogenesis, but recent studies have also implicated dysfunction of forebrain circuits as a potential cause of breathing abnormalities leading to SUDEP.
Our breathing is altered when we perform tasks such as laughing, crying, sighing, speaking, singing, playing a musical instrument, smelling, meditating, taking deep breaths or holding our breath. Forebrain circuits are thought to modulate breathing during or in anticipation of these and many other behaviors to ensure homeostasis. Forebrain regions implicated in the control of breathing include the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus and many others. These regions likely act via direct or indirect connections to brainstem regions that generate the respiratory rhythm or pattern motor output. Alternatively, these regions may bypass the brainstem and act on the spinal cord to contract the diaphragm or activate accessory muscles for breathing. The circuits and mechanisms by which forebrain structures control breathing is an emerging area of research with important implications for human physiology as well as SUDEP.
In this Research Topic, we welcome manuscripts studying the control of breathing and/or mechanisms of SUDEP. We will consider both Original Research and timely Review Articles focused on:
1) control of breathing by forebrain structures.
2) brain regions or circuits whose dysfunction may contribute to SUDEP.
3) the relationship between breathing alterations and SUDEP.
Manuscripts focused on basic, translational, or clinical research are encouraged. As a goal of this Research Topic is to bring together researchers and clinicians focused on breathing with those investigating epilepsy, individual papers may focus solely on breathing or solely on SUDEP.
Each year, more than 1 in 1000 epilepsy patients who were previously in good health die unexpectedly. Recent experimental evidence from humans and animal models suggests that many of these cases of sudden death in epilepsy (SUDEP) may result from abnormal breathing or apneas (lack of breathing) that precede cardiac arrest. Forebrain circuits have long been known to contribute to seizures and epileptogenesis, but recent studies have also implicated dysfunction of forebrain circuits as a potential cause of breathing abnormalities leading to SUDEP.
Our breathing is altered when we perform tasks such as laughing, crying, sighing, speaking, singing, playing a musical instrument, smelling, meditating, taking deep breaths or holding our breath. Forebrain circuits are thought to modulate breathing during or in anticipation of these and many other behaviors to ensure homeostasis. Forebrain regions implicated in the control of breathing include the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus and many others. These regions likely act via direct or indirect connections to brainstem regions that generate the respiratory rhythm or pattern motor output. Alternatively, these regions may bypass the brainstem and act on the spinal cord to contract the diaphragm or activate accessory muscles for breathing. The circuits and mechanisms by which forebrain structures control breathing is an emerging area of research with important implications for human physiology as well as SUDEP.
In this Research Topic, we welcome manuscripts studying the control of breathing and/or mechanisms of SUDEP. We will consider both Original Research and timely Review Articles focused on:
1) control of breathing by forebrain structures.
2) brain regions or circuits whose dysfunction may contribute to SUDEP.
3) the relationship between breathing alterations and SUDEP.
Manuscripts focused on basic, translational, or clinical research are encouraged. As a goal of this Research Topic is to bring together researchers and clinicians focused on breathing with those investigating epilepsy, individual papers may focus solely on breathing or solely on SUDEP.
