Epilepsies come in many forms and have many causes.
The main kinds of focal epileptic discharge are illustrated in the diagram to the left. They are not especially troublesome to patients, but they are useful for diagnosis and they have been studied extensively in experimental models. Seizures last longer and typically invade more brain tissue. A key question for epilepsy research is what causes the transition from brief interictal burst to seizure. Basic mechanisms of interictal bursts Many experimental models help us understand epileptic discharges.