All animal experiments were performed in accordance with the European Communities Council Directive (86/609/EEC) and were reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (REC #205), under license from the Department of Health, Dublin, Ireland. Adult (20–22 g) male C57BL/6 mice (Harlan) were purchased from Harlan. Food and water was available ad libitum. Induction of SE was performed as described previously31 (link). Mice were anesthetized with isoflurane and placed in a mouse-adapted stereotaxic frame. Following a midline scalp incision, Bregma was located and three partial craniectomies performed for placement of skull-mounted recording screws (Bilaney Consultants). A fourth craniectomy was drilled for placement of a guide cannula (Coordinates from Bregma; AP = −0.94 mm, L = −2.85 mm) based on a stereotaxic atlas60 . The cannula and electrode assembly was fixed in place and the animal placed in an open Perspex box which allowed free movement. The EEG was recorded using a Grass Comet digital EEG. After baseline EEG was established, the animal was lightly restrained while an injection cannula was lowered 3.75 mm below the brain surface for injection of KA (Sigma-Aldrich) or vehicle (phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), pH adjusted to 7.4) into the basolateral amygdala nucleus. After 40 min, all mice received lorazepam (Ativan, 6 mg kg−1, i.p.). Animals were recorded for up to an hour thereafter before being disconnected and placed in a warmed recovery chamber. Non-harmful seizures were induced by a single injection (i.p.) of KA (15 mg kg−1), as described36 (link).