Epileptic brain activity found in transgenic mouse lines

A study by Steinmetz et al. has shown that a number of transgenic mouse lines used for neuroscience research may develop abnormal brain activity resembling epileptic events. Specifically, some genotypes of transgenic mice expressing GCaMP6 genetically encoded calcium sensors exhibited aberrant electrical activity similar to interictal spikes, leading the authors to offer warning to other researchers using these lines. Findings from this new study present a cause for concern for researchers as the presence of unusual brain activity can affect the validity of any neural investigation. The study was carried out across multiple laboratories and employed various neurological observations to...