The dynamical role of electromagnetic induction in epileptic seizures: a double-edged sword

The important role of electromagnetic induction in neuronal activities has received considerable attention. However, its connection with epilepsy disease is rarely explored, especially the related dynamical mechanisms have not been fully investigated. In this paper, with the help of the magnetic flux variable, an improved Taylor model considering electromagnetic induction is proposed. Based on this model, we separately study the effect of the excitatory projection (c₃) from the pyramidal neuronal population (PY) to the specific relay nucleus (SRN) and the inhibitory projection (c₉) from the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) to the specific relay nucleus (SRN) on the epileptogenesis under electromagnetic induction. The results show that electromagnetic induction is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, 2-SWDs are triggered to help expand the seizure area caused by c₃. On the other hand, it has a certain elimination effect on seizures induced by c₉. More importantly, the internal bifurcation mechanism of dynamical transitions has been revealed, in which 2-SWDs is induced by fold of cycles or ‘ghost’ bifurcations, and the expansion of the oscillating (resting) monostable region leads to aggravation (partial elimination) of absence seizures. Our results might contribute to understanding the role of endogenous magnetic fields in epileptic seizures.