Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder marked by an enduring predisposition to unprovoked seizures. Its causes, seizure types, and effects vary widely.

Seizure: A transient episode of signs or symptoms caused by abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. Epilepsy is defined by a lasting predisposition to recurrent unprovoked seizures.
Focal Seizure: A seizure that begins in networks limited to one cerebral hemisphere. Focal seizures are classified by their onset and may occur with or without impaired awareness.
Antiseizure Medication: A medication used to reduce the likelihood or severity of seizures. Medication is the usual first treatment for many forms of epilepsy.
Genetic Epilepsy: Epilepsy in which genetic factors have a significant role in causing the disorder. Genetic causes account for some epilepsies, though inheritance patterns vary.
Febrile Seizure: A seizure associated with fever in a young child, without evidence of central nervous system infection or another acute cause. A febrile seizure alone does not establish an enduring predisposition to unprovoked seizures.
Neuronal Synchrony: The coordinated timing of activity among neurons or neural populations. Excessive synchronization can help generate seizure activity across brain networks.
Generalized Seizure: A seizure that begins in networks distributed across both cerebral hemispheres. Generalized onset is a major seizure category used in epilepsy classification.
Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: Epilepsy in which adequate trials of two tolerated, appropriately chosen antiseizure medication schedules fail to achieve sustained seizure freedom. This diagnosis can prompt evaluation for treatments beyond medication.
Mesial Temporal Sclerosis: A pattern of scarring and neuronal loss in the inner temporal lobe, especially the hippocampus. It is a common structural cause associated with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy.
Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizure: A seizure-like episode caused by psychological processes rather than epileptic electrical activity. These episodes can resemble epileptic seizures but arise through a different mechanism.

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