A collection of highly technical scientific articles by international basic and clinical neuroscientists constitutes a review of their knowledge of the brain and nervous system, particularly the aspects related to loss of brain function control and its explosive discharges which cause epileptic seizures. Anatomy, biophysics, biochemistry, and physiology of brain and neuronal structures and mechanisms are discussed. Included are studies related to seizure mechanisms and therapeutic agents by neurochemists and neuropharmacologists, and information from physiologists on normal and seizure processes in cells and collections of neurons in the brain. Also reviewed are the principles of genetic and other causative factors of seizures. The data and concepts relative to epilepsy presented in the monograph are designed to provide further understanding of the nervous system to basic scientists, and assistance in developing more effective therapy to clinicians. (KW)