In 1995, the first epilepsy-associated ion channel was identified; a mutation in a strongly conserved amino acid residue in the acetylcholine receptor alpha 4 subunit (CHRNA4) correlated with autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE; Steinlein et al., 1995). The gene discussed is CHRNA4; the disease is autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy.