The doctoral dissertation in the field of Neurophysiology will be examined at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Kuopio campus.
Every year, millions of people suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBI), which can lead to long-term complications—including epilepsy that develops months or even years later. The doctoral research of Pedro Andrade, MSc, explores how and why this happens, using advanced brain monitoring techniques in animal models.
“We discovered that many epileptic seizures immediately after TBI are "silent," showing no visible symptoms but detectable through brain recordings. Later seizures usually happen during sleep, especially when the brain shifts from deep to REM sleep,” Andrade says.
“We also observed that changes in sleep patterns and brain activity could help identify individuals at risk of developing epilepsy. We compiled a new seizure behaviour library—a detailed list of behaviours observed during seizures—which assists in translating experimental observations into clinical practice. This research paves the way for earlier diagnosis, preventive measures and improved treatment strategies.”
New tools for identifying those at risk
After TBI, some people develop epilepsy months or even years later—but predicting who will be affected has been a major challenge. Andrade’s research on brain activity and sleep patterns in animal models sheds light on this hidden process.
“The findings can assist doctors and researchers in identifying TBI subjects who are at risk of becoming epileptic. By recognising non-convulsive status epilepticus and alterations in sleep patterns—particularly during transitions between deep and REM sleep—we can enhance monitoring and early diagnosis. The sleep-based biomarkers and seizure behaviour library developed in this study provide new tools for identifying individuals at risk of developing epilepsy.
These insights can inform treatment decisions, enhance patient outcomes, and facilitate the development of more effective therapies in both clinical and research settings.
To understand how epilepsy develops after a brain injury, Andrade used a well-established animal model involving rats. “First, we created a controlled brain injury similar to what might happen in a car accident or fall. Then, we monitored the rats’ brain activity using tiny implanted electrodes and high-resolution video cameras—day and night—for several months.”
“We also tested how sensitive their brains became to seizures over time using a safe chemical that helps reveal hidden seizure risks. By analyzing sleep patterns and brain signals, we discovered that many seizures happen during specific sleep transitions. We also built a detailed behavioural list to describe how seizures look and evolve. This hands-on approach helped us uncover new clues about how epilepsy starts and how we might detect it earlier in people with brain injuries.”
The doctoral dissertation of Pedro Andrade, MSc, entitled Seizures, sleep dysregulation, and epileptogenesis – A video-electroencephalogram study in an experimental model of post-traumatic epilepsy will be examined at the Faculty of Health Sciences. The Opponent in the public examination will be Professor Christine Ekdahl Clementson of the University of Lund, and the Custos will be Professor Asla Pitkänen of the University of Eastern Finland. The public examination will be held in English.
Doctoral dissertation (link coming soon)
