Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Vertigo pp 233–239Cite as

Vestibular epilepsy

  • Chapter

  • 555 Accesses

Abstract

Vestibular epilepsy (vestibular seizures or auras) is a rare cortical vertigo syndrome secondary to focal epileptic discharges in either the temporal lobe or the parietal association cortex (Foerster 1936; Penfield and Jasper 1954; Schneider et al. 1968). Multiple areas of both receive bilateral vestibular projections from the ipsilateral thalamus. Results of electrical stimulation in humans have shown that the intraparietal sulcus (Foerster 1936) and the posterior part of the superior temporal gyrus (Penfield and Jasper 1954; Penfield 1957) form part of the vestibular cortex, as described in Chap. 13 (p. 219). Similarly experiments in monkeys have identified vestibular neuronal activity in the posterior caudal part of the postcentral gyrus (Fredrickson et al. 1966) and in the deep posterior insula (parieto-insular vestibular cortex, PIVC; Grüsser et al. 1990a,b). It is not yet known which of the different multisensory vestibular cortical areas (2v, 3aV, 6, 7, PIVC) is involved in vestibular epilepsy. If vestibular seizures arise from different areas, the sensorimotor symptomatology may differ as regards apparent rotation or tilt (Smith 1960), with or without associated eye, head and body deviation or epileptic nystagmus. Clinical data on the directions of apparent self-motion or surround-motion are mostly incomplete and imprecise. If the description is exact, as in rotatory seizures (“volvular epilepsy”), then the topographic localisation of the underlying pathology is too inexact to permit its allocation to known vestibular, areas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Arend R, Brzacki A, Misztal S (1968) Nystagmusanfälle bei Temporallappenepilepsie. Psychiat Neurol Med Psychol (Lpz) 20: 273–276

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barac B (1967) Vestibular influence upon the EEG of epileptics. Electroenceph Clin Neurophysiol 22: 245–252

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barac B (1968) Vertiginous epileptic attacks in so-called“vestibulogenic seizures”. Epilepsia 9: 137–144

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Behrman S, Wyke BD (1958) Vestibulogenic seizures. A consideration of vertiginous seizures with particular reference to convulsion produced by stimulations of labyrinthine receptors. Brain 81: 529–541

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brady JP, Levitt EEC (1964) Nystagmus as a criterion of hypnotically induced visual hallucinating. Science 146: 85–86

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brandt Th, Bötzel K, Yousry T, Dieterich M, Schultze S (1995) Rotational vertigo in embolic stroke of the vestibular and auditory cortices. Neurology 45: 42–44

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bumke O, Foerster O (1936) (eds) Handbuch der Neurologie, vol Vl. Springer, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cantor FK (1971) Vestibular-temporal lobe connections demonstrated by induced seizures. Neurology 21: 507–516

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Donaldson IM (1986) Volvular epilepsy: a distinctive and underreported seizure type. Arch Neurol 43: 260–262

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Foerster O (1936) Sensible kortikale Felder. In: Bumke O, Foerster O (eds) Handbuch der Neurologie, vol Vl. Springer, Berlin, pp 358–448

    Google Scholar 

  • Fredrickson JM, Figge U, Scheid P, Kornhuber HH (1966) Vestibular nerve projection to the cerebral cortex of the rhesus monkey. Exp Brain Res 2: 318–327

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fried I, Spencer DD, Spencer SS (1995) The anatomy of epileptic auras: focal pathology and surgical outcome. J Neurosurg 83: 60–66

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Furman JMR, Crumrine PK, Reinmuth OM (1990) Epileptic nystagmus. Ann Neurol 27: 686–688

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gowers WR (1907) The borderlands of epilepsy. Churchill, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Grüsser OJ, Pause M, Schreiter U (1990a) Localization and responses of neurons in the parieto-insular vestibular cortex of the awake monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). J Physiol 430: 537–557

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grösser OJ, Pause M, Schreiter U (1990b) Vestibular neurons in the parieto-insular cortex of monkeys (Macaca fascicularis): visual and neck receptor responses. J Physiol 430: 559–583

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris CM, Boyd S, Chong K, Harkness W, Neville BGR (1997) Epileptic nystagmus in infancy. J Neurol Sci 151: 111–114

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hawrylyshyn PA, Rubin AM, Tasker RR, Organ LW, Fredrickson JM (1978) Vestibulothalamic projections in man — a sixth primary sensory pathway. J Neurophysiol 41: 394–401

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hochman MS (1983) Rotary seizures associated with frontal lobe malignant neoplasm: a case report. Epilepsia 24: 11–14

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes MR, Drachman DA (1977) Dizziness, epilepsy and EEG. J New Ment Dis 38: 431–435

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huott AD, Madison DS, Niedermeyer E (1982) Occipital lobe epilepsy. Europ Neurol 11: 325–339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson H (1879) Diagnosis of epilepsy. Medical Times and Gazette 1: 29

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacome DE (1986) Epileptic nystagmus and eye movements. J Clin Neuro-Ophthal 6: 269–270

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacome DE, Fitzgerald R (1982) Monocular ictal nystagmus. Arch Neurol 39: 653–656

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan PW, Lesser RP (1989) Vertical and horizontal epileptic gaze deviation and nystagmus. Neurology 39: 1391–1393

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan PW, Tusa RJ (1993) Neurophysiologic and clinical correlations of epileptic nystagmus. Neurology 43: 2508–2514

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karbowski K (1971) Vestibularapparat und hirnelektrische Aktivität. Hans Huber, Bern

    Google Scholar 

  • Karbowski K (1984) Schwindel und Epilepsie. Therapeut Umschau 41: 705–708

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kattah JC, Potolicchio J, Kotz HL, Kolsky MP, Thomas D (1986) Cortical blindness and occipital lobe seizures induced by cisplatin. Neuro-ophthalmology 7: 99–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kogeorgos J, Scott DF, Swash M (1981) Epileptic dizziness. Br Med J 282: 687–689

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kolbinger HM, Jerusalem F (1994) Sturzanfälle. Akt Neurol 21: 2–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kömpf D (1986) The significance of optokinetic nystagmus asymmetry in hemispheric lesions. Neuro-ophthalmology 6: 61–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lavin PJM (1986) Pupillary oscillations synchronous with ictal nystagmus. Neuro-Ophthalmol 6: 113–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marie P, Pierre JR (1922) Études ru la variabilité des réactions vestibulaires des épileptiques étudiées par la méthode de Bäràny. Rev Neurol 38: 86–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Meissner J, Wiebers DO, Swendson JW, O’Fallon WM (1986) The natural history of drop attacks. Neurology 36: 1029–1034

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Molnàr L, Kékesi F, Gosztonyi G (1959) Die Wirkung der Labyrinthreizung auf das normale und pathologische Elektroencephalogramm beim Menschen. Arch Psychiat Z Ges Neurol 199: 152–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson KR, Brenner RP, Carlow TJ (1986) Divergent-convergent eye movements and transient eyelid opening associated with an EEG burst-suppression pattern. J Clin Neuro-ophthal 6: 43–46

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Noachtar S, Lüders HO, Bromfield EB (1996) Surgical therapy of epilepsy. In: Brandt Th, Caplan LR, Dichgans J, Diener HC, Kennard C (eds) Neurological disorders: course and treatment. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 183–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Orbàn L, Lang J (1963) Zur Pathogenese der vestibulogenen Epilepsie. Psychiat Neurol (Basel) 146: 193–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen E, Jepson O (1956) Epileptic vertigo. Acta Psychiatr Neurol Scand (Suppl) 108: 301–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Penfield W (1957) Vestibular sensation and the cerebral cortex. Ann Oto-Rhino-Laryngol (St Louis) 66: 691–698

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Penfield W, Jasper H (1954) Epilepsy and the functional anatomy of the human brain. Little Brown, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Penfield WG, Kristiansen K (1951) Epileptic seizure patterns. Thomas, Springfield, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pohlmann-Eden B, Daffertshofer M (1994) Rotatorische Anfälle: ein seltenes Äquivalent fokaler epileptischer Aktivität. Nervenarzt 65: 415–420

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rad von M (1970) Ein Fall von isoliertem epileptischem Nystagmus. Dtsch Z Nervenheilk 197: 125–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Remillard GM, Ethier R, Andermann F (1974) Temporal lobe epilepsy and perinatal occlusion of the posterior cerebral artery. Neurology 24: 1001–1009

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riser M, Géraud J, Grezes-Rueff Ch, Lavitry S, Rascol A (1951) A propos de 14 cas d’epilepsie giratoire. Rev Neurol 85: 245–253

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sadeh M, Goldhammer Y, Kuritsky A (1983) Postictal blindness in adults. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 46: 566–569

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schiffter R (1987) Kreislaufen als Ausdruck fokaler epileptischer Aktivität. Akt Neurol 14: 132–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt D, Shorvon S (1996) The epilepsies. In: Brandt Th, Caplan LR, Dichgans J, Diener HC, Kennard C (eds) Neurological disorders: course and treatment. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 159–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider RC, Calhoun HD, Crosby EC (1968) Vertigo and rotational movement in cortical and subcortical lesions. J Neurol Sci 6: 493–516

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider RC, Calhoun HD, Kooi KA (1971) Circling and rotational automatisms in patients with frontotemporal cortical and sub-cortical lesions. J Neurosurg 35: 554–563

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simon RP, Aminoff MJ (1986) A clinical sign predicting electroencephalographic status epilepticus in anoxic coma. Neurology 36, (Suppl) 1: 287

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith BH (1960) Vestibular disturbance in epilepsy. Neurology 10: 465–469

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith NJ, Docherty TB (1982) Nystagmus: an unusual manifesta- tion of temporal lobe epilepsy. J Electrophysiol Tech 8: 7–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiegel EA (1932) Rindenerregung (Auslösung epileptiformer Anfälle) durch Labyrinthreizung. Versuch einer Lokalisation der corticalen Labyrinthzentren. Z Ges Neurol Psychiat 138: 178–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spiegel EA (1934) Labyrinth and cortex. The electroencephalogram of the cortex in stimulation of the labyrinth. Arch Neurol Psychiatr (Chic) 31: 469–482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stauder KH (1934) Epilepsie and Vestibularapparat. Arch Psychiat Nervenkr 101: 739–761

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stodieck SRG, Brandt Th, Büttner U (1990) Visual and vestibular epileptic seizures. Electroenceph Clin Neurophysiol 75: 65–66 P

    Google Scholar 

  • Stolz SE, Chatrian GE, Spence AM (1991) Epileptic nystagmus. Epilepsia 32: 910–918

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thurston SE, Leigh RJ, Crawford T, Thompson A, Kennard C (1988) Two distinct deficits of visual tracking caused by unilateral lesions of cerebral cortex in humans. Ann Neurol 23: 276–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tiecks FP, Planck J, Haberl RL, Brandt T (1996) Reduction in posterior cerebral artery blood flow velocity during caloric vestibular stimulation. J Cerebr Blood Flow Metab 16: 1379–1382

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tusa RJ, Kaplan PW, Hain TC, Naidu S (1990) Ipsiversive eye deviation and epileptic nystagmus. Neurology 40: 662–665

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Viguaendra V, Lim CL (1978) Epileptic discharges triggered by eye convergence. Neurology 28: 589–591

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe K, Negoro T, Matsumato A, Inokuma K, Takaesu E, Machara M (1984) Epileptic nystagmus associated with typical absence seizures. Epilepsia 25: 22–24

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wenzel R, Bartenstein P, Dieterich M, Danek A, Weindl A, Minoshima S, Ziegler S, Schwaiger M, Brandt Th (1996) Deactivation of human visual cortex during involuntary ocular oscillations: a PET activation study. Brain 119: 101–110

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • White JC (1971) Epileptic nystagmus. Epilepsia 12: 157–164

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yaqub BA (1993) Electroclinical seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Epilepsia 34: 120–127

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurologische Klinik, Klinikum Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximillians-Universität, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377, Munich, Germany

    Professor Thomas Brandt FRCP

Authors
  1. Professor Thomas Brandt FRCP
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2003 Springer-Verlag London

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Brandt, T. (2003). Vestibular epilepsy. In: Vertigo. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3801-8_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3801-8_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-40500-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-3801-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation