Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the leading cause of death among patients with epilepsy, causing a global public health burden. The underlying mechanisms of SUDEP remain elusive, and effective prevention or treatment strategies require further investigation. A major challenge in current SUDEP research is the lack of an ideal model that maximally mimics the human condition. Animal models are important for revealing the potential pathogenesis of SUDEP and preventing its occurrence; however, they have potential limitations due to species differences that prevent them from precisely replicating the intricate physiological and pathological processes of human disease. This Review provides a comprehensive overview of several available SUDEP animal models, highlighting their pros and cons. More importantly, we further propose the establishment of an ideal model based on brain–computer interfaces and artificial intelligence, hoping to offer new insights into potential advancements in SUDEP research. In doing so, we hope to provide valuable information for SUDEP researchers, offer new insights into the pathogenesis of SUDEP and open new avenues for the development of strategies to prevent SUDEP.

癫痫猝死（SUDEP）是癫痫患者死亡的主要原因，造成全球公共卫生负担。 SUDEP 的潜在机制仍然难以捉摸，有效的预防或治疗策略需要进一步研究。当前 SUDEP 研究的一个主要挑战是缺乏最大限度地模拟人类状况的理想模型。动物模型对于揭示SUDEP的潜在发病机制并预防其发生具有重要意义；然而，由于物种差异，它们存在潜在的局限性，无法精确复制人类疾病复杂的生理和病理过程。本综述全面概述了几种可用的 SUDEP 动物模型，强调了它们的优缺点。更重要的是，我们进一步提出建立一个基于脑机接口和人工智能的理想模型，希望为SUDEP研究的潜在进展提供新的见解。在此过程中，我们希望为 SUDEP 研究人员提供有价值的信息，为 SUDEP 的发病机制提供新的见解，并为制定预防 SUDEP 的策略开辟新的途径。