A new phase of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) investigation has begun in which new drugs can be designed to target specific epileptogenic mechanisms. A rational approach to therapy today requires not only a full awareness of phamacokinetics of AEDs but also a thorough knowledge of their molecular targets and of their influence on excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms in the brain. This book provides a multi-author systematic look at this subject, from neurobiological bases to clinical applications. It includes four sections dealing with fundamental aspects of cortical excitability, models of epileptic disorders, targets for anti-epileptic drugs and rational approaches to therapy. Each chapter provides a review of a specific topic prepared by well known scientists active in the field, introducing their most recent results in a concise and comprehensive form.
