Aberrant neurogenesis in adult epileptic brain: compensatory or pathologic

The brain reorganizes itself in response to excessive neural activation. Remodeling of brain circuitry associated with epilepsy includes numerous phenomena and mechanisms, those related to neurogenesis being actively discussed. In the review, the data on neurogenesis alterations in epileptic brain (mostly derived from experimental animal models) are analyzed. The following questions are addressed: (a) how changes in neurogenesis are related to seizures; (b) are granule cells born as a result of epileptic events functionally different from those resulting from “normal” neurogenesis; (c) is enhanced neurogenesis cause or consequence of seizures; (d) is enhanced neurogenesis beneficial/compensatory or pathologic?