Epileptiform Activity in a Neuron-Astrocyte Network Model

In this paper, we propose a spiking neuron-astrocyte network model to study the mechanisms of epileptic activity in the brain. This model allows for the implementation of a self-organized bistability regime - spontaneous switching of network activity between two states: desynchronization and synchronization. These states simulate the resting state and pathological state of the brain, respectively. In other words, under the dominant stability of the asynchronous state, rare and short-lived occurrences of extreme synchronization of action potential generation by neurons are possible. Numerical investigation of this model has shown that the recurrence of transitions to the synchronization regime in this network model exhibits the same statistical properties as the interictal intervals observed in numerous experimental studies. This confirms the relevance of the model and the correctness of the basic physical principles underlying it.