Discussion

Given that the brain is essentially a large, complex electrical circuit it makes sense that the most effective way to influence brain activity, and associated behaviours that are controlled by the brain, is through the modulation of ion channels. Indeed, the natural changes that occur in brain activity from moment to moment and across different behavioural states are largely brought about by changes in ion channel conductance that result either directly from the activation of ligand-gated channels or indirectly via the modulation of voltage-gated channels that sit downstream of a host of G-protein couple receptors (GPCRs). In this talk I will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of targeting ion channels for treating CNS disorders and lay out some potential untapped opportunities that exist for harnessing this area in neuroscience drug discovery.