Epilepsy Medicine Glossary

Occurring immediately after a seizure ends.

Comprehensive assessment to determine surgical candidacy for patients with medication-resistant epilepsy.

A substance or condition that increases seizure susceptibility or lowers seizure threshold.

Early warning symptoms that may occur hours to days before a seizure, distinct from the immediate aura.

EEG patterns that appear abnormal between seizures but are not truly epileptiform in nature.

Epilepsy that fails to respond to adequate trials of anti-seizure medications.

An implantable device that detects abnormal brain activity and delivers targeted electrical stimulation to prevent seizu...

A seizure that begins as a focal seizure but spreads to involve both brain hemispheres. Critical distinction in seizure...

Multiple seizures occurring within a defined time period, typically 24 hours, with return to baseline between events.

The tendency for seizures to occur in groups within a short time period, followed by seizure-free intervals. Important p...

Complete absence of seizures for a specified period, typically used as the primary outcome measure in epilepsy treatment...

The level of neuronal excitability at which seizures are triggered in an individual brain.

The clinical signs and symptoms observed during a seizure, used for seizure classification and localization.

A characteristic EEG pattern consisting of a sharp spike followed by a slow wave. Diagnostic marker in certain epilepsy...

A characteristic EEG pattern consisting of a sharp spike followed by a slow wave, typical of certain seizure types.

A quantitative measure expressing the percentage of time that spike-wave discharges occupy during an EEG recording perio...

Prolonged seizure or series of seizures without recovery between episodes.

Minimally invasive technique using depth electrodes to record brain activity directly from suspected seizure regions.

Intracranial electrodes placed directly on the brain surface beneath the dura mater for precise seizure localization.

The sudden death of a person with epilepsy where no other cause is identified at autopsy.

Surgical removal of part of the temporal lobe to treat medication-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy.

The practice of measuring antiseizure medication levels in blood to optimize dosing and minimize toxicity.

Temporary weakness following a focal seizure.

A neuromodulation therapy involving electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve to reduce seizure frequency.