postictal suppression
Pronunciation: post-ICK-tal su-PRESH-un
Period of reduced EEG activity immediately following a seizure, indicating neuronal exhaustion.
Full Definition
Postictal suppression refers to the temporary decrease in background EEG activity that typically occurs immediately after a seizure ends. This phenomenon reflects the metabolic and electrical exhaustion of neurons following the intense, synchronized firing characteristic of seizure activity. The degree and duration of postictal suppression can provide important localizing information, as more pronounced suppression often occurs over the seizure onset zone. This finding is particularly valuable in distinguishing true seizures from non-epileptic events and in lateralizing temporal lobe seizures.
Usage
Usage note: Always use 'postictal' as one word; duration and degree are clinically significant.
In Context
- "Marked postictal suppression over the left temporal region lasted 45 seconds following the seizure." — Video-EEG report
- "The absence of postictal suppression questions whether this event represented a true seizure." — Seizure evaluation