Chronic Cerebellar Stimulation in the Treatment of Epilepsy

Abstract

In the early to mid 19 70s Cooper et al. (3) put to practical use the theoretical concepts of Julien (4), who ascertained the inhibitory action of the Purkinje cells on the motor cortex, the classical work of Moruzzi (5) about the inhibition of spasticity by the same cells, and the work of Dow et al. (2), who showed that removal of the cerebellar cortex intensifies epileptic activity and demonstrated the existence of an inhibitory mechanism in the reticular structures of the cerebellum. Cooper et al. (3) presented a rather small series with promising results. However, the method was subjected to considerable criticism. The main arguments against it included potential damage to the nervous substance and the number of complications connected with the surgical procedure, such as CSF leakage, breakage of the leads, and frequent mechanical failures.