Epilepsy is a disorder of altered neuronal excitability.
Ion channels underlie the physiology of excitable membranes.
Half the normal gene and half the normal amount of ion channels is not enough. The mutated gene leads to an ion channel which is excessively excitable, such as a sodium channel that inactivates more slowly than normal. Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy Clinical Autosomal dominant inheritance. Onset of symptoms during childhood. Clusters of seizures occurring at night out of sleep.