Diverse Species of Animal Models in Epilepsy Research: Progress and Perspectives

Epilepsy, one of the most common neurological disorders, is characterized by recurrent, self-sustained seizure events resulting from brain hyperexcitability. Epilepsy exhibits significant heterogeneity in its causes, pathology, and response to treatment, leading to diverse epilepsy phenotypes. Over the past few decades, animal models, ranging from simple organisms to more complex species, have provided invaluable insights into the mechanisms underlying epilepsy and further facilitated the development of antiseizure medication and other therapeutic interventions. In this review, we give a brief overview of the pathogenesis of epilepsy and then summarize the various existing models of seizures and epilepsy across a wide range of species, including zebrafish, rodents, and nonhuman primates, and others. We describe in detail the characteristics and advantages of these animal models. While the potential scope of these models is vast, challenges remain in their development and application. Recent technological advancements are enhancing the replication accuracy of these models, allowing them to better align with clinical precision medicine. Cross-species integration may help bridge animal findings to humans, supporting mechanistic understanding and the development of new therapies.