Neurology Quiz: Seizure Disorders

Characterized by brief periods of staring and unresponsiveness, often with repetitive blinking, that occur multiple times a day, particularly during periods of inactivity. Typically involves 3 Hz spike-and-wave discharges on EEG during hyperventilation.

Anti-seizure medication commonly used for absence seizures, known for its effectiveness in controlling generalized spike-and-wave discharges.

Seizures originating in a specific area of the brain, often resulting in localized symptoms, such as weakness or paralysis, in the corresponding body part.

A brief period of weakness or paralysis following a seizure, often affecting the same body part involved in the seizure.

Anti-seizure medication commonly used for focal seizures, including those with postictal paresis.

Seizures with a focal onset that spread to involve both hemispheres of the brain, often resulting in a generalized tonic-clonic seizure.

Seizures characterized by sudden jerky movements, especially in the morning upon waking or after sleep deprivation, often triggered by flashing lights. Usually associated with generalized polyspike-and-wave discharges on EEG.

Anti-seizure medication commonly used for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, known for its effectiveness in controlling both myoclonic seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

Seizures originating in the temporal lobe, often characterized by complex symptoms such as confusion, automatisms (lip-smacking, fumbling), and altered awareness.

Seizures originating in the frontal lobe, often characterized by sudden, involuntary movements, changes in behavior, or altered awareness. May involve rhythmic fast activity on EEG.

Seizures that occur exclusively during sleep, often characterized by behavioral changes, such as sitting up in bed, screaming, or thrashing.

Episodes of sudden, transient inability to move or speak, lasting seconds, with preserved awareness. Often associated with feelings of being 'frozen in place', sometimes with preceding auditory hallucinations.

A type of focal seizure characterized by prolonged staring, automatisms (lip-smacking, fumbling), and altered awareness. Often associated with hippocampal sclerosis on MRI and interictal temporal sharp waves on EEG.

Episodes of sudden, excessive energy, with vocalizations, rapid movements, and preserved awareness. Often associated with rhythmic fast activity in the frontal region on EEG.

Periodic Lateralized Epileptiform Discharges (PLEDs) are abnormal electrical activity in the brain that can be seen on an EEG. They are often seen in people with epilepsy, especially those with focal seizures.

Characterized by brief episodes of sudden loss of muscle tone (going limp), often occurring multiple times daily. Often associated with generalized spike-and-wave discharges on EEG, especially during sleep deprivation.

Episodes of episodic confusion lasting several hours, often with automatisms (lip-smacking, repetitive swallowing), typically associated with PLEDs over the temporal lobe on EEG.

Seizures characterized by involuntary jerking movements, typically involving a localized area of the body, such as the hand or arm, often with transient speech difficulty. Often associated with sharp waves over the corresponding brain region on EEG.

Episodes of involuntary pelvic thrusting, vocalizations, and complex limb movements occurring only in the presence of others, suggesting a non-epileptic origin. Often associated with no epileptiform changes on EEG.

Episodes of brief right-sided face and arm twitching, often associated with an old infarct in the opposite hemisphere on MRI and sharp waves on EEG, suggesting a focal seizure.

Seizures characterized by sudden head turning and vocalizations, often associated with rhythmic theta activity in the frontal region on EEG.

Episodes of sudden, transient weakness lasting 3-4 minutes, with complete resolution. Often associated with periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLEDs) on EEG, suggesting a focal seizure.

Seizures characterized by sudden head drops and brief loss of postural tone (atonia), often associated with generalized polyspike-and-wave discharges on EEG, especially during sleep deprivation.

Seizures characterized by generalized tonic-clonic convulsions, often preceded by myoclonic jerks, suggesting a generalized epilepsy syndrome.

Anti-seizure medication commonly used for generalized seizures, including tonic-clonic seizures and myoclonic seizures.

Anti-seizure medication commonly used for both focal and generalized epilepsy, particularly for myoclonic seizures.

A rare epilepsy syndrome characterized by both tonic-clonic seizures and a specific type of seizure called 'atonic' seizures, often associated with developmental delay and cognitive impairment.

Anti-seizure medication commonly used for various epilepsy syndromes, including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

A type of neonatal seizure that is often benign and self-limiting, often involving repetitive facial twitching and jerking movements, with a normal MRI and multifocal sharp waves on EEG.

A type of seizure that occurs in clusters, often after waking, characterized by brief flexing movements of the neck, arms and legs, with a diffuse cortical atrophy on MRI and a characteristic EEG pattern called hypsarrhythmia.

A type of seizure characterized by staring episodes, with repetitive blinking and a loss of responsiveness, typically triggered by hyperventilation, with a characteristic EEG finding of generalized 3 Hz spike-and-wave discharges.

A type of seizure that often occurs during sleep, with involuntary movements, such as sitting up, screaming, or thrashing, often associated with rhythmic fast activity in the frontal region of the brain on EEG.

EEG pattern commonly seen during therapeutic hypothermia, which involves periods of suppression of brain activity followed by bursts of electrical activity.

EEG pattern observed after therapeutic hypothermia, consisting of repetitive, slow-wave discharges occurring at a frequency of 1 Hz, often indicating a poor prognosis.

A medical term for the re-establishment of spontaneous circulation after successfully resuscitating a person from cardiac arrest.

A treatment involving cooling the body temperature to 32-34 degrees Celsius for 24-48 hours after cardiac arrest, with the goal of improving neurological outcomes.

Seizures that occur primarily during sleep, with various involuntary movements, such as sitting up, screaming, or thrashing. Often associated with rhythmic fast activity in the frontal region of the brain on EEG.

A medical term for the re-establishment of spontaneous circulation after successfully resuscitating a person from cardiac arrest. A key marker of successful CPR.

A treatment involving cooling the body temperature down to a specific range for a specific duration after cardiac arrest, in the hopes of protecting the brain from damage. The goal is to improve neurological outcomes.

A type of seizure characterized by sudden involuntary movements, typically involving a localized area of the body like the hand or arm, often accompanied by transient speech difficulty. Associated with sharp waves over the corresponding brain region on EEG.

A type of seizure characterized by sudden, excessive energy, with vocalizations, rapid movements, and preserved awareness. Often associated with rhythmic fast activity in the frontal region of the brain on EEG.

A type of seizure characterized by episodes of sudden, transient inability to move or speak, lasting seconds, with preserved awareness. Often associated with feelings of being "frozen in place", sometimes with preceding auditory hallucinations.

A type of seizure characterized by sudden head turning and vocalizations, often associated with rhythmic theta activity in the frontal region of the brain on EEG.

A type of seizure characterized by brief right-sided face and arm twitching, often associated with an old infarct in the opposite hemisphere on MRI and sharp waves on EEG, suggesting a focal seizure.

A type of seizure characterized by episodes of sudden, transient weakness lasting 3-4 minutes, with complete resolution. Often associated with periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLEDs) on EEG, suggesting a focal seizure.