afterdischarge
Pronunciation: AF-ter-dis-charge
Abnormal electrical activity recorded from cortex following direct electrical stimulation during brain mapping.
Full Definition
An afterdischarge is a sustained epileptiform electrical response that persists after termination of direct cortical stimulation during functional brain mapping procedures. These discharges indicate that the stimulation has triggered abnormal synchronous firing in local neural networks. Afterdischarges are important markers of cortical excitability and potential seizure onset zones during presurgical evaluation. Their presence, duration, and pattern help neurophysiologists assess seizure threshold and identify epileptogenic tissue.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenated; distinct from normal evoked responses to stimulation.
In Context
- "Stimulation at 8 mA produced a 12-second afterdischarge without clinical manifestations." — Invasive EEG report
- "The presence of afterdischarges at low current intensities suggests increased cortical excitability." — Pre-surgical evaluation