Similar to other rodent models of absence epilepsy19,20 and Scn2a+/− mice15, Stxbp1 knockout mice showed synchronous bilateral cortical SWDs during behavioral quiescence (Fig. 1a) and effective suppression of SWDs following ethosuximide administration (Fig. 1b), therefore they were regarded as experiencing absence seizures. This evidence concerns the gene SCN2A and juvenile absence epilepsy.