cognitive epilepsy
Seizures manifesting primarily as isolated cognitive symptoms without obvious motor or sensory components.
Full Definition
Cognitive epilepsy refers to seizures that present primarily with cognitive symptoms such as aphasia, memory disturbance, executive dysfunction, or other higher cortical function deficits, without prominent motor or sensory manifestations. These seizures can be challenging to diagnose as they may be subtle and mistaken for non-epileptic conditions such as transient global amnesia, psychiatric disorders, or attention deficits. Cognitive seizures typically arise from cortical areas involved in language, memory, or executive function and may require detailed neuropsychological assessment and EEG monitoring for accurate diagnosis.
Usage
Usage note: Emerging concept; distinguish from cognitive impairment caused by seizures versus seizures manifesting as cognitive symptoms.
In Context
- "The child's episodes of word-finding difficulty were identified as cognitive epilepsy." — Speech therapy consultation
- "Cognitive epilepsy was suspected when academic performance declined during active seizure periods." — Educational psychology assessment