Electrophysiology of gliomas: current science, implications, and opportunities.

Minns, H. E., Useinovic, N., Smith, J. L., Puri, S., Raslan, A. M., Paulk, A. C., & Cleary, D. R. (2025). Electrophysiology of gliomas: current science, implications, and opportunities.. Frontiers in Oncology, 15, 1611840.

Abstract

Gliomas engage in bidirectional communication with neurons, promoting hyperexcitable conditions that enable neural circuit infiltration and drive tumor growth. These neuron-glioma interactions create patterns of aberrant neural activity that can be detected using intracranial electrodes. While conventional clinical electrodes are limited by low spatiotemporal resolution and lack of single-unit precision, recent advances in neural engineering have introduced multiple types of high-density electrodes that provide orders of magnitude greater spatial resolution. Pairing these tools with emerging characterizations of novel, glioma-associated electrophysiological signatures offers new opportunities to understand disease progression and improve surgical and medical management for gliomas and glioma-related epilepsy. In this review, we begin by outlining foundational research in cancer neuroscience and neuron-glioma interactions through the lens of extracellular dynamics. We then discuss established and emerging methods for intraoperative evaluation of neural activity, what is known about glioma-associated oscillatory and aperiodic trends, and implications for future studies. Finally, we consider the therapeutic potential of neuromodulation for gliomas.

Last updated on 04/01/2026
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