Epilepsy and neuroplasticity Flashcards
What is epilepsy?
A chronic medical condition produced by temporary changes in the electrical function of the brain, causing seizures which affect awareness, movement or sensation
How much of the population is affected?
0.5-1% of the population
What is an idiopathic disease?
A disease with no single cause
What do the symptoms of epilepsy depend on?
The type of epilepsy and the areas of the brain affected
Why isn’t a diagnosis of epilepsy very informative?
Due to the heterogeneity of disease types, that will affect the individual and require treatment in quite different ways
What are the two types of epilepsy?
Partial and generalised
What is partial epilepsy?
Simple partial seizures and complex partial seizures
What is generalised epilepsy?
Grand mal seizures, petit mal seizures
Where are simple partial seizures localised to?
Localised to specific parts of the brain - partial
What are the effects of simple partial seizures?
Localised effects that are usually sensory and/or motor
e.g localised jerking beginning in right hand and progressing to clonic movements of entire right arm - a focal motor seizure (known as Jacksonian March progression)
What are Jacksonian March progressions produced by?
In the arm - epileptiform activity in the motor cortex that controls the arm
Where are complex partial seizures localised to?
Specific areas of the brain
Why are complex partial seizures known as complex?
Called complex because their effects are complex and diverse
What are complex partial seizures also called?
Focal onset impaired awareness seizures
What are complex partial seizures associated with?
Apparently ordered/co-ordinate, but inappropriate motor behaviour
E.g running, chewing, buttoning
Describe the consciousness during complex partial seizures?
May be absent - impaired consciousness
How long do complex partial seizures last?
Just a few minutes, often with no memory of the episode
What are complex partial seizures often referred to and why?
Temporal lobe epilepsy due to common localisation in the temporal lobe
What are auras?
Abnormal sensations/symptoms preceding partial seizures
Give some examples of auras
Sense of fear
Rising feeling in abdomen
Strange tastes or odours ‘metallic’
Visual sensations akin to hallucinations
Why do auras occur?
Due to early abnormal electrical activity originating from seizure focus - earliest manifestation of partial seizure
What part of the brain are petit mal seizures involved in?
The entire brain - generalised
Why are petit mal seizures known as absent seizures?
As the person is briefly absent, disrupted consciousness (meaning they may not know they were absent)
Who are petit mal seizures found to be more common with?
Children - often disappear with age
