A method for screening a compound for epilepsy treatment, the method comprising: presenting a compound to a sample comprising a neuron having one or more genotypic or phenotypic characteristic of epilepsy, wherein the genotypic characteristic comprises a mutation in a gene selected from the group consisting of SCN1A, WWOX, PRRT2, KCNC1, STX1B, CARS2, STXB1, KCNQ2, CDKL5, ARX, SPTAN, BRAT1, KCNQ3, SCN2A, GABA receptors, NIPA2, CDKL5, PCDH19, and NAV1.1 or wherein the phenotypic characteristic is selected from the group consisting of diminished voltage-gated sodium channel function compared to disease-free neurons and hyperexcitability, wherein the neuron expresses an optical reporter of membrane electrical potential, a light-gated ion channel that comprises an algal channel rhodopsin and a protein that reports a change in an intracellular calcium level that comprises a GCaMP variant, and wherein the neuron is stimulated by a second neuron that expresses the light-gated ion channel and wherein the second neuron also expresses the optical reporter of membrane electrical potential; receiving, via a microscopy system, an optical signal generated by the optical reporter, in response to optical stimulations of the sample following presentation of said compound, wherein the pulses of light that deliver optical stimulation do not induce fluorescence of the reporters; the light used to image the reporters does not actuate the light-gated ion channel; and the fluorescence of each reporter is distinguishable, thereby avoiding cross-talk; detecting a change in action potential waveform and a change in intracellular calcium level upon exposure of the neuron to the compound; and identifying the compound as a candidate for epilepsy treatment based on said optical signal. presenting a compound to a sample comprising a neuron having one or more genotypic or phenotypic characteristic of epilepsy, wherein the genotypic characteristic comprises a mutation in a gene selected from the group consisting of SCN1A, WWOX, PRRT2, KCNC1, STX1B, CARS2, STXB1, KCNQ2, CDKL5, ARX, SPTAN, BRAT1, KCNQ3, SCN2A, GABA receptors, NIPA2, CDKL5, PCDH19, and NAV1.1 or wherein the phenotypic characteristic is selected from the group consisting of diminished voltage-gated sodium channel function compared to disease-free neurons and hyperexcitability, wherein the neuron expresses an optical reporter of membrane electrical potential, a light-gated ion channel that comprises an algal channel rhodopsin and a protein that reports a change in an intracellular calcium level that comprises a GCaMP variant, and wherein the neuron is stimulated by a second neuron that expresses the light-gated ion channel and wherein the second neuron also expresses the optical reporter of membrane electrical potential; receiving, via a microscopy system, an optical signal generated by the optical reporter, in response to optical stimulations of the sample following presentation of said compound, wherein the pulses of light that deliver optical stimulation do not induce fluorescence of the reporters; the light used to image the reporters does not actuate the light-gated ion channel; and the fluorescence of each reporter is distinguishable, thereby avoiding cross-talk; detecting a change in action potential waveform and a change in intracellular calcium level upon exposure of the neuron to the compound; and identifying the compound as a candidate for epilepsy treatment based on said optical signal.