The effect of gap junctions as well as the biological mechanisms behind seizure wave propagation is not completely understood. In this work, we use a simple neural field model to study the possible influence of gap junctions specifically on cortical wave propagation that has been observed in vivo preceding seizure termination. We consider a voltage-based neural field model consisting of an excitatory and an inhibitory population as well as both chemical and gap junction-like synapses. We are able to approximate important properties of cortical wave propagation previously observed in vivo before seizure termination. This model adds support to existing evidence from models and clinical data suggesting a key role of gap junctions in seizure wave propagation. In particular, we found that in this model gap junction-like connectivity determines the propagation of one-bump or two-bump traveling wave solutions with features consistent with the clinical data. For sufficiently increased gap junction connectivity, wave solutions cease to exist. Moreover, gap junction connectivity needs to be sufficiently low or moderate to permit the existence of linearly stable solutions of interest.

中文翻译：

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研究间隙连接在癫痫波传播中的作用。

间隙连接的影响以及癫痫波传播背后的生物学机制尚未完全了解。在这项工作中，我们使用一个简单的神经场模型来研究间隙连接可能对癫痫发作终止之前体内观察到的皮层波传播的可能影响。我们考虑一个基于电压的神经场模型，该模型由兴奋性和抑制性种群以及化学和间隙连接样突触组成。我们能够估计癫痫发作终止之前在体内先前观察到的皮层波传播的重要特性。该模型为模型和临床数据的现有证据提供了支持，这些证据表明间隙连接在癫痫波传播中的关键作用。特别是，我们发现，在此模型中，类似缝隙连接的连通性决定了具有一次波峰或两次波峰行波解的传播，其特征与临床数据一致。为了充分增加间隙连接的连通性，不存在波解决方案。此外，间隙连接的连通性需要足够低或适中，以允许存在感兴趣的线性稳定解。