Definition
An epileptic seizure is “a transient occurrence of signs and/or symptoms due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain” (Fisher et al., 2005). Neurons of the cerebral cortex generate seizures, although they originate in the thalamocortical system. Certain brain regions, including the temporal lobes, have a higher susceptibility to seizures. Seizures may be spontaneous or associated with a precipitating event such as sleep deprivation or alcohol consumption. They occur one or more times per day in some patients, but at much longer intervals in others.
A recent definition of epilepsy describes it as a disorder of the brain characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures and the occurrence of at least one epileptic seizure (Fisher et al., 2005). Well-established risk factors for seizures include moderate–severe head trauma, central nervous system infection, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, febrile seizures, cerebral palsy, and...
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Bell, B.D. (2011). Seizure. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_1055
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_1055
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