Massimo Avoli
Dr. Avoli鈥檚 laboratory employs electrophysiological, pharmacological and molecular approaches to analyze the excitability of the rodent forebrain in in vivo and in in vitro experimental preparations. These studies focus on the interplay of inhibitory and excitatory mechanisms, especially as they relate to the genesis of synchronicity in neuronal networks. These neuronal processes are thought to be fundamental for understanding the mechanisms underlying the generation of seizures in epileptic patients and thus for developing new anti-epileptic strategies. Dr. Avoli is particularly interested to the pathophysiology of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, one of the most common forms of focal epilepsy in adulthood. On-going studies, center on the role of GABAA receptor-mediated signaling, of neurosteroids, and of high-frequency oscillations (80-500 Hz) and the activity of single cells during epileptogenesis and ictogenesis in this focal epileptic disorder. Dr. Avoli has been recently employing optogenetic protocols to test the hypothesis that activation of specific cell types lead to peculiar seizure onset patterns in in vitro and in vivo preparations. These optogenetic procedures do extend to identify whether and how such cellular processes do influence, and hopefully halt epileptogenesis.
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