Kindling hypothesis

Kindling hypothesis is a well-established scientific concept in psychiatry and neuroscience. The term was borrowed from epilepsy research in the 1960s–70s. Researchers observed that repeated, sub-clinical electrical stimulation of the brain eventually led to spontaneous seizures. They called this process kindling, by analogy to starting a fire: small sparks eventually make ignition easier. In psychiatry, the concept was most clearly articulated by Robert Post in the 1980s. Post’s kindling hypothesis (applied to bipolar disorder) means early episodes are more likely to be triggered by external stressors (life events, disruptions, trauma). With repetition, episodes require less external provocation. Later episodes may occur more autonomously, driven by internal neurobiological changes