Cognitive consequences of experimental febrile status epilepticus

In the experimental rodent model, early life febrile status epilepticus renders significant changes to the structure and function of neurons and circuits within hippocampal CA1, a brain region necessary for learning and memory. Research continues to dissect the causal relationship between experimental febrile status, circuit changes, and cognitive deficits. The presence of aberrant neuronal signaling and spatial memory deficits after early life experimental febrile status provides a unique opportunity to study how structural changes and aberrant patterns of network activity during development disrupt the maturation of memory networks and highlight possible avenues for therapeutic intervention.