EEG-desynchronization as the major mechanism of anti-epileptic action of vagal nerve stimulation in patients with intractable seizures: Clinical neurophysiological evidence

Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) has emerged as an effective and acceptable alternative therapy for patients with intractable seizures. Despite its reported efficacy in several studies, the precise mechanism of its anti-epileptic action remains elusive and requires to be established. Based on neurophysiological alterations induced by VNS, it has been proposed earlier that a major mechanism of its anti-epileptic action could be EEG-desynchronization, which is known to be associated with increased resistance to seizures. This brief paper attempts to support the proposed mechanism with clinical neurophysiological evidence that has emerged in recent times. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.