Students will obtain detailed knowledge on studying epileptogenesis and functional consequences of autoimmune-mediated epilepsies by using classical molecular biological approaches as well as in vivo models. The lectures will provide an introduction into different epilepsy models as well as in the molecular and cellular mechanisms leading to a hyperexcitable in neuronal networks and neuropathological brain alterations. The lectures will also introduce the methods that are being used to study epileptogenesis and associated inflammatory processes. In the practical course, students will apply several techniques such as classical molecular, cellular and in vivo mouse model approaches. At the systems level, they will be introduced to perform and analyze cell biological approaches. Finally, they will explore mechanisms of
epileptogenesis and the role of inflammation in in vivo models using EEG-recording, immunohistochemistry, mRNA-analyses and multi electrode array approaches (MEA). The seminars will cover the methodological background and primary literature in the field and will help students to effectively read scientific literature.