Question 2843
{"accessible":false,"alternatives":[{"id":13872,"text":"A technique used to deliberately induce seizures by exposing them to bright lights."},{"id":13873,"text":"A term used to describe a single, clinically isolated seizure episode in the setting of high fever. "},{"id":13874,"text":"A type of seizure that originates from the brainstem or cerebellar hemispheres before ascending to the thalami."},{"id":13875,"text":"Repeated sub-threshold stimulations resulting in an increased likelihood of spontaneous seizures. "},{"id":13876,"text":"The rapid spread of seizure activity from one hemisphere of the brain to the other."}],"archived":false,"correctAlternativeId":13875,"explanation":"\u003cp\u003eThe kindling phenomenon or effect is a neurological phenomenon encountered experimentally in animal models and is thought to play an important role in the development of epilepsy in humans.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe repeated application of sub-threshold electrical or chemical stimulations to specific brain regions results in a cascade of events, altering the excitability of neurons and their interconnections. This process results in the formation of hyperexcitable neural networks that are primed to generate spontaneous seizures.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe temporal lobe, particularly the limbic system, is particularly susceptible to kindling. This is thought to be due to the inherent neuroplasticity required to form new memories and the extensive connections to other parts of the brain. This explains, at least in part, why temporal lobe epilepsy is so common and why temporal lobe lesions, particularly those involving the mesial temporal structures (see \u003ca href=\"https://radiopaedia.org/articles/long-term-epilepsy-associated-tumours\" title=\"Long term epilepsy associated tumours\"\u003elong-term epilepsy-associated tumors\u003c/a\u003e), disproportionately lead to seizures.\u003c/p\u003e","id":2843,"imageUrl":null,"imageAttribution":null,"imageAttributionCaseInfo":null,"firstQuestionPath":"/questions/2843","nextQuestionPath":"/articles/epilepsy/questions/2842","relatedArticles":[{"id":174005,"title":"Kindling effect","link":"/articles/kindling-effect?lang=us"}],"alsoUsedIn":[{"id":1747,"kind":"Course","title":"Epileptogenic Brain Tumours Learning Pathway - page 1747","link":"https://radiopaedia.org/courses/epileptogenic-brain-tumours-learning-pathway/pages/1747"}],"stem":"\u003cp\u003eWhat is the kindling phenomenon in the context of epilepsy?\u003c/p\u003e","menuLinks":[{"text":"Report problem with question","url":"https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfO3soWYhOjJ7yErSysyCe5V4A1CqW7WK3rDA7MtAkecMGqNw/viewform?entry.1624461248\u0026entry.553583435=https://radiopaedia.org/questions/2843"}],"attemptsPercentages":[{"alternativeId":"13875","percentage":70},{"alternativeId":"13876","percentage":10},{"alternativeId":"13872","percentage":20},{"alternativeId":"13873","percentage":0},{"alternativeId":"13874","percentage":0}],"promptToLogin":false,"questionManager":false,"articleId":"epilepsy"}