can epileptogenic activity originate in areas out side of the cerebrum? for example the cerebellum, medulla oblongata...etc? would it still be considered epilepsy? i was just wondering this because im learning about seizures and i understand tonic, clonic, myoclonic,complex partial...etc what im getting at is there seizure types that occur in organ systems? instead of a finger twitching in a partial seizure can there be sychronous firing of neurons in the cardiac or respiratory nuclei? can some one clarify this i been trying to search for this but i have no idea what to search for
125809
Epileptic seizures are almost defined by the effect on the cerebral cortex- There may well be burst electrical activity in the cerebellum, though I have never heard of that, but it would not likely be termed epileptic- It may be called epileptiform, though.  Burst electrical activity causes epileptic seizures, but epilepsy itself is the disorder that these electrical events cause, not the events themselves- thus, a burst activity in the cerebellum that had not functional consequence would not be considered epilepsy.  THere are obviously muscle seizures (ever had a charly horse?), and cardiac burst activity.  Im not sure what you mean by respiratory, but a hiccup is a perfect example of a epileptiform burst electrical event in the diaphragm.  Outside of neurons and muscles, however, you are unlikely to see it, as most cells are not electrically depolarized.
206699
Febrile temps or seizures are experienced in babies, and there is nothing to detect, it is just a common occurence.\nThe fever spikes, and seizures start, but because they are febrile, this is not something that will go into childhood or adulthood, unless, of course, the child was already diagnosed with epilepsy.\nYou should read up in this, and also talk with the babies pediatrician
518647
Epilepsy:\nhttp://www.science-spirit.org/article_detail.php?article_id=130\nhttp://www.geocities.com/paulntobin/conversion.html\nhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2865009.stm
36214
1 Reasons not known : Due to inherited constitutional tendency to epilepsy.2. Other causes, Increased intracranial prerssure, Infections, Injuries to head ,Cerberovascular disease, Congenital cereberal disorders ,Brain degenratiosn, if sufficient oxygen is not got by the brain,  alcohol, drugs and metabolic disorders.
283823
I just wanted to add a bit of info.  I dated a girl who was epilleptic, so I did lots of research on epillepsy when we were dating.  According to John Hopkins website, if someone has a seizure for more than 6 (six) minutes, brain damage is occuring and thus a ambulance should be called. \n\nHOWEVER, when we were dating, she never had a seizure shorter than 6 minutes and she recovered just fine.  In fact, she always told me not to call the ambulance because she knew she would be just fine, and technically all doctors can do is give anti-convulsants (rectally, by the way) and muscle relaxers.  She was always much happier (in the lightest sense) coming out of a seizure and being in her own bed rather than in a hospital bed, having to deal with doctors/nurses/hospital bills/insurance company/department of transportation (hospitals are required to report anyone of driving age who has a seizure to the DOT).\n\nThe best position to put a seizure victim in is to have them on their side, never their back (that way their airway doesn't get clogged with mucus/vomit/etc.  They should only be restrained if they are injuring themselves or others.  They should be touched as minimal as possible since this may trigger more seizures.  Do not put anything in their mouth, namely fingers!  Monitor breathing and heartrate between seizures, perform CPR if necessary.  \n\nWhen she came out of her seizures, she was usually very emotional, which was problematic and usually caused another seizure.  I always helped her to the bathroom afterwards since she was especially weak after a seizure and she always wanted tylenol and water. \n\nThat's about it.  Good luck, this was probably more than you wanted to read, but if someone else reads it, I'll be glad.  At least they'll know what to do when someone has a seizure rather than throw holy water on them, thinking they are possessed by a demon :)
649896
maybe you are talking about myoclonic seizures
409066
Hi there.  I'm a registered sleep medicine technologist (RPSGT) and I can tell you absolutely for certain that a sleep study is your best option.  While these "fits" won't necessarily happen, there can be lots of other information that could come to light with a full night's sleep study.  Ask your physician to refer him to a sleep centre to perform a "routine PSG (sleep study) with seizure montage".  There are extra wires to pick up brain waves which can help to pick up seizure activity or the suggestion of it.  \nNighttime seizures do happen--we test for them all the time at the lab I work at.  Night terrors typically affect children, and based on your description, I would be very inclined to believe they are nocturnal seizures he is experiencing.\nGood luck.\nJ
296978
When most people think of seizures, they picture rhythmic jerking movements of the arms and legs. Seizures can look like this image, but can also have many different appearances depending on which brain cells are affected. Often the actual appearance of a seizure is so different from what people expect that the diagnosis of seizure is missed.\n\nSeizures are classified as generalized or partial depending on how much of the brain is involved . Seizure activity seizes control of normal brain function. Some partial seizures affect areas of the brain that direct movement; others stimulate areas of the brain that perceive reality or that regulate the body's internal functions.\n\nPartial Seizures\n\nUncontrolled muscle activity is the most common form of partial seizure. This can either be tonic (increased muscle tone) or clonic (rhythmic muscle contractions). Usually this involves the face, neck, or limbs. One classic appearance is the forceful turning of the head and eyes to one side. Sometimes complex movements such as lip-smacking, sucking, or swallowing can occur. These might be confused with the tics of Tourette's syndrome. Sometimes partial seizures can appear somewhat intentional, as when a seizure makes someone pull at clothing or caress an object. A partial seizure in the part of the brain that directs the "flight" response might even send someone running aimlessly.\n\nSensory seizures are more difficult to detect. An explosion of activity in the auditory centers of the brain might cause someone to suddenly hear things that aren't there. If the seizure is in the back of the head, all manner of visual disturbance might occur, from temporary blindness, to flashes of light, to complex visual hallucinations. Auditory or visual hallucinations might even be misdiagnosed as schizophrenia or some other mental illness.Olfactory seizures, in which people smell aromas that are not present, may be either pleasant or revolting. Gustatory seizures, with bursts of taste sensation, are rare.\n\nSuddenly the world starts to spin out of control, and you are falling. Paroxysmal vertigo is another type of partial seizure. Terror!!! Seizures in primitive reaches of the brain can produce states of absolute fear. Or states of vague anxiety can be partial seizures. Hopelessness :^( Seizures in the limbic system of the brain can produce spasms of depression -- or the sensation of total well-being.\n\nSeizures can thrust vivid memories into consciousness, or distorted, mangled memories. They can create dream-like states, sudden nightmares, and states of unreality or detachment. Partial seizures can slow time to a syrupy pace, or make it seem to rush by in fast-action fury.\n\nSometimes partial sensory seizures are as subtle as periods of numbness, discomfort, or pain in parts of the body. Sometimes, rather than creating new sensations, they merely distort those that are already there.\n\nSometimes only the body's internal regulatory parts of the brain are affected by a partial seizure -- there might be a sudden increase in the amount of saliva, or in the speed of stool through the intestines.\n\nMany of the symptoms that can be produced by partial seizures are common. Only when they are triggered outside the normal pathways of brain function are they seizures. The potential for each of them is, after all, present in each of our brains.\n\nGeneralized Seizures\n\nGeneralized seizures are disruptions of both sides of the brain at once, and as a result, usually include an impairment or loss of consciousness. The classic tonic-clonic or grand mal seizure would be difficult not to notice. The individual suddenly loses consciousness, sometimes emitting a piercing cry or haunting moan. The eyes roll back in the head; muscles throughout the face, trunk, and limbs become rigid in a tonic contraction. The person falls, unprotected, to the ground. Often the tongue is bitten. More frighteningly, breathing stops and the person begins
9939
There may or may not be pre-seizure signs. Each person and case is unique. If you are in need of a surgeon, I would suggest Dr. Takanori Fukushima-one of the best in the world for skull based resections. What you have is also treatable with good success by using Proton radiation. Please check out this website for more info on Proton treatment. http://www.llu.edu/proton/patient/sites.html#MENINGIOMAS
102547
it's shocking. get it. hell i don't remeber because it's been so many years since i had mine. i have been epileptic for about 28 years and it still sucks ass. I'm so medicated most days that I wonder why I ever quit using the illegal stuff. your best bet is to call around and ask.
251923
I have had epilepsy since 8 years of age.  Many experiences w/ seizures.  LET HIM SLEEP>>>>>> his body is drained and needs to recharge.  I have been affected (being exhausted and tired) for up to a week and there is NOTHING you can do more importantly than letting the person rest. Peace, quiet, soothing warm environment.  Let the body heal.  I am not 18, 28, 38 or EVEN 48 any more, it's hard to "want to help and feel that there is nothing you can do"... be patient, kind and understanding... GOOD JOB!
601920
Depends on the medication.  Some have longer half-lives than others.  Status epilepticus can occur after rapid decrease in drug levels, but does not always occur.  It is more common if you have had status in the past.\nMy advice- don't stop medication abruptly.
587531
I hope you have taken some of the above advice and seen a doctor.  As a teacher I have both heard and seen children who have "behavior problems" and it is because of epileptic (sp) seizures that are not typical--staring into space or they stop talking mid sentence.  I am sure whatever the situation is you'll get it checked out!
306547
INFORMATION IS CONDUCTED ELETROCHEMICALLY BY THE NEURONS THROUGH VARYING CONCENTRATIONAS OF Na and K ions across the myelin seath of the neurons.in a neuron at rest there is more conc. of k ions on the inner side(this is the polarised region) and more conc. of Na ions on the outer side(depolarised region) .thus the inner side is at a greater potential than the outer side .when a stimulas is received the conc. in a particular regin of the neuron begins to change. K IONS move to the outer side and Na ions move to the inner side.now in that part of the neuron the outer membrane is at a higher potential than the the inner membrane. in the outer region the Kions are surrounded by large number of Na ions due to this a current sink develops and the K ion move back to the inner side while Na ions move back to the outer region and this region gets repolarised.but the region next to this gets deolarised in the process.thus the nerve impulse travels across the neuron as a wave of polarisation, depolarisation and repolarisation.\n           as the nerve impulse reaches the terminals of the neuron called dendrites the vesicles present there release ascetylcholine and this neurotransmitter transfers messages from one neuron to another and the above process continues till the message reaches the concerned organ.
317605
Yes, it's purely chemical potential that drives neural impulses.  Recall what it is that powers batteries themselves?  Chemical potential.  In the voltaic cell or common battery this potential is generated by reactions between a chemical, most often a very strong acid like sulfuric acid, and some material, usually a metal like copper.  In the brain, the potential difference is a result of 2 chemicals, sodium and potassium.  That's it in a nutshell.
523724
There are certain forms of petite mal seizures that are "adolescent" meaning they are outgrown. My daughter had "absent seizures" from age 4-8 then outgrew them.\nYou need to ask your Neurologist about your specific type of seizure.
370863
A very interesting question. It led me to read up on narcolepsy and its interesting reading.\n\nThe ending of the word makes it seem possible that it is a type of seizure, and therefore could  be light triggered, but the research leads me to believe this is incorrect. See below.\n\n"By Ellen Kuwana \nNeuroscience for Kids Staff Writer \nMarch 4, 2000\n\nNarcolepsy\nNarcolepsy is a sleep disorder that disrupts both the onset of sleep and the sleep cycle, including REM sleep. Because  it is difficult to study human sleep behavior and physiology, researchers have turned to other mammals that have narcolepsy. \n\nClues from Man's Best Friend\nStanford University's Sleep Clinic has a colony of dogs that have narcolepsy. Researchers, led by Emmanuel Mignot, PhD, have found that these dogs have the gene for narcolepsy. They used a technique called positional cloning and published their results in the August 6, 1999 issue of the journal called Cell. \n \n\nPositional Cloning\nBriefly, positional cloning starts by isolating DNA from a blood sample. This does not harm the donor (in this case, the dog). DNA is made up of building blocks called nucleotides (just like a necklace is made up of links or beads). There are four nucleotides, called A, T, G, and C. The Stanford scientists compared the patterns of these nucleotides to look for differences between healthy dogs and dogs with narcolepsy. The scientists identified a unique region (marker) within individuals that allowed them to track the disease with the marker. This is called linkage analysis. Then the researchers searched for the disease gene near that marker. This approach identified the narcolepsy gene.\nThe scientists dubbed the gene hypocretin receptor 2 . This gene carries the instructions to make a protein that acts like an antenna on certain cells, picking up messages from other cells. Because the gene is defective in narcoleptic dogs, the hypocretin signal is not received by these cells. Therefore, the neurons that they connect to are not stimulated appropriately. This may be one reason why signals that tell the brain and body to be awake and alert go unheeded in individuals with narcolepsy. It was already known that hypocretins play a role in feeding behavior, but their role in arousal was a surprise. \n\n\nBut What Does this Mean for Humans?\nDr. Mignot and others know that a similar gene exists in humans, so the task is to find the defective human gene or genes that cause narcolepsy. While this is not of immediate help to narcoleptics, knowledge about how sleep works may help treat sleep disorders. Not only could this information lead to drugs which promote wakefulness, it could also influence how medications to help people sleep are made in the future. "