Thanks to advanced imaging techniques, it is now possible to recognize 'in vivo' structural alterations of the cortex leading in many patien ts to epileptic syndromes, frequently resistent to pharmacological tre atment. In order to face this problem this book brings together specia lists who have contributed in the last few years to the study of norma l and pathological development, and on the basic and clinical issues r elated with cortical development and epilepsy. Areas analysed in this book are: mechanisms of cortical development; animal models of neurona l migration disorders mimicking human pathology; electroclinical, neur oradiological and neuropathological studies of the different forms of cortical dysplasia. Further discussions include the genetic aspects an d neurosurgical strategies for epilepsies secondary to cortical dyspla sia.