Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that is hallmarked by recurrent unprovoked seizures, affecting nearly 2.2 million people each year and is known to be associated with high rates ofdepression, deficits in cognitive functioning, learning and memory impairments and anxiety related disorders. Recently, research has established that seizures induce the development of abnormal neuronal connections within the brain. Through the development and integration of these abnormal neuronal connections, the optimal functioning of many processes within the brain becomes disrupted. Within this context, particular interest is placed on a process called pattern separation, which is the ability to discriminate similar objects and contexts, as well as being a known contributor to the consolidation of sensory information to form memories. Within the various mood and cognitive disorders experienced by epileptic patients, efficient pattern separation has been suggested to be compromised. This research seeks to determine whether silencing abnormal neuronal connections will attenuate deficits in pattern separation.The results of this research will build upon the current knowledge and understanding of the neurological mechanisms and processes that are affected in epileptic patients, leading to the development of therapies applicable to not only epilepsy, but also to its associated mood and cognitive disorders.