The effect of focal brain cooling on epileptic discharges in rats: Frequency analysis of electroencephalography

To investigate the effect of focal brain cooling on seizure, spectral analysis of electroencephalography (EEG) was performed in anesthetized rats intracortically injected with penicillin G potassium. Penicillin G induced epileptic discharges (EDs) and increased high frequency EEG bands. Use of a cooling device suppressed EDs with an effect that depended on the brain temperature. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis indicated that cooling to 25°C terminated the higher frequency EEG activity in Beta bands, cooling to 20°C suppressed the power spectra for both Alpha and Beta waves, and cooling to 15°C completely suppressed all spectral bands. These results suggest that a focal cooling device can terminate EDs and suppress EEG frequency bands in a manner that is dependent on the brain temperature. These findings contribute to development of clinical treatment for patients with EDs.