In a neurology lab at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Benjamin Brinkmann studies the brain’s electrical rhythms across days, weeks and months — searching for patterns that reveal when seizures are most likely to occur. Working with neuroscientists and clinicians, he combines data from brain waves, vital signs and imaging to develop tools that interpret those signals and help guide patient care.

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes recurring seizures — sudden bursts of electrical activity that can interrupt movement, speech or awareness. For many people living with this condition, medication keeps seizures under control. But for those with drug-resistant epilepsy, the episodes can occur without warning — disrupting routines and independence.