In other words, arousal transitions often trigger seizures, be them endogenously or exogenously generated.
Originally epilepsy was called the sacred disease and the "falling sickness" and by the 4th century epileptic attacks were being well described, if not understood. Here is a 4th century description: "After various premonitory signs the patient falls down, stretched out or twisted, and in this condition he remains for some time. After these tonic convulsions he passes into the stage of clonic convulsions and a condition where he appears to be sleeping. The attack is followed by complete amnesia."
Common myths about seizures is that they cause brain damage -- Not usually, when in moderation, although frequent and prolonged tonic-clonic seizures may in some patients injure the brain. Another common myth is that epilepsy is a life-long disorder-- well, not always, as half of childhood epilepsies are outgrown by adulthood. One in 200 people suffer epilepsy and the causes are many, when known. Seizure disorders can develop from head injuries, such as from a motor vehicle accident or fall, from a brain tumor (the believed source of Julius Caesar's epilesy) or stroke, from pre/natal brain injury (anoxia/hypoxia) as well as infections such as meningitis or encephalitis. It is believed that brain damage causes a "scar" on brain where a seizure starts, though it is unclear why scarring starts a seizure.
There are two general types of epilepsy: generalized seizures and partial seizures. Generalized are the most common and consist of uncontrollable neural discharge starts in one area that spreads across brain. Sufferers experience muscle twitches and convulsions and a loss of consciousness and loss of recall about seizure. The best known generalized seizures is the tonic-clonic (or "grand mal" - great sickness) with its massive discharge of neural firing which causes rigidity and violent jerking of body. ("Tonic-clonic" means "stiffness-violent.") An absence seizure or "petit mal" is nonconvulsive when a person becomes unaware of her or her surroundings and may stare off in space or freeze for 5 to 10 seconds. It is a loss of consciousness in elegant way (for those studying consciousness) and absence seizures may go unrecognized for years or be mistaken as daydreaming or the inattentiveness associated with ADD. There is also status epilepticus which are frequent lengthy seizures without regaining consciousness between attacks which require immediate medical attention. In terms of partial seizures, an abnormal electrical activity involving small part of brain which sometimes speads, we have simple and complex: simple partial seizures (or "Jacksonian" or "focal" seizures) are short-lasting seizures without loss of consciousness, whereas complex partial partial seizures produce a change in consciousness, such as hearing or seeing things, or reexperiencing memories or deja vu.
Epilepsy is usually treated with drugs, and the first drug prescribed typically controls seizures in half the patients. Some anticonvulsants have serious side effects and none (at last I checked) are recommended during pregnancy due to side effects on a developing fetal brain. Neurosurgery is the "last" resort, typically after series of drug treatment failures. That neurotherapy, retraining the seizure focus or neighboring cells, is not yet commonly recommended in between the two treatment approaches, or even before the use of drugs, is one of those political and scientific stories to be retold numerous times, with disbelief, in future books on the history of medicine.
-DK
News & Reviews
NEW BOOKS
Neurobiology of Human Values
by Jean-Pierre P. Changeux (Editor), et al
Neuroscience enters the fray of ontological discussions including morality.
--www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/3540262539/eegspectrum
Neuroscience : PreTest Self-Assessment & Review
by Allan Siegel
Review neuroscience at a high level with 100s of questions, explanations, and outlines of key material.
--www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071436510/eegspectrum
Trends In Epilepsy Research
by Shawn M. Benjamin (Editor)
Newest research on detecting and treating seizures.
--www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1594542376/eegspectrum
Neurobiology for Clinical Social Work: Theory and Practice
by Jeffrey S. Applegate, Janet R. Shapiro
Current brain research on attachment and neurobiology, including plasticity, early trauma, adolescent mothers, effect of neglect, assessment and intervention strategies.
--www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0393704203/eegspectrum
Developmental Psychopathology, Developmental Neuroscience
by Dante Cicchetti, Donald J. Cohen
Timely issue on neurobiology of development.
--www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/047123737X/eegspectrum
Sleeping Well: The Sourcebook for Sleep and Sleep Disorders
by MJ Thorpy, Jan Yager
Presents major theories and possible causes of sleep disorders and covers a variety of sleep topics of interest to all such as drowsy driving, jet lag, over-the-counter remedies, and adolescent health issues.
--www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0816040907/eegspectrum
From Wilderness to Witness
by Becky Wyatt
A woman's journey in and out of addiction.
--www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1413755992/eegspectrum
JOURNAL PAPERS
Frontal EEG asymmetry and premenstrual dysphoric symptomatology.
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Low premenstrual dysphoric symptom report was associated with greater left frontal activity at rest than women reporting high degree of symptoms.
Clinical correlates of quantitative EEG alterations in alcoholic patients.
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Decreased slow frequency power may indicate brain atrophy or damage in chronic alcoholics and beta increases may suggest cortical hyperexcitability.
Brain development and ADHD.
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Reviews structural MRI imaging of ADHD. Differences in prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, corpus callosum, and cerebellum have been reported.
Sleep microarchitecture in childhood and adolescent depression: temporal coherence.
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Adolescent depression is associated with reduced EEG coherences of sleep EEG rhythms.
Functional connectivity between hemispheres and schizophrenic symptoms
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Increases in frontal beta coherence was associated with improvements in treating positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
Neurofeedback treatment of epilepsy: rationale to practical application.
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Provides rationale and practice for using sensorimotor rhythm conditioning to reduce susceptibility of seizures.
Fronto-parietal coupling of brain rhythms in mild cognitive impairment
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Elderly with Alzheimer's present a reduction of synchronization likelihood (delta to gamma) at both fronto-parietal and inter-hemispherical electrodes whereas normal functioning elderly do not.
Alcohol effects on simulator driving performance in adult ADHD
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Alcohol consumption impacts attentiveness of the ADHD more than the control group; however, a deleterious effect of alcohol was seen on all participants regardless of ADHD diagnosis or not.
Neurocircuitry of obsessive-compulsive disorder and disgust.
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Disgust sensitivity is correlated with OCD and to predicts contamination fear.
W. Grey Walter, pioneer in the electroencephalogram, robotics, cybernetics, AI
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Historical note on EEG pioneer.
Upcoming CoursesA Pathway to Brain Regulation - Neurofeedback helps improve neuroregulation. It's used by health care professionals for ADHD, depression, anxiety disorders, LD, mood disorders, and behavioral problems. This 4-day course, Neurofeedback in a Clinical Practice, provides the basis for using Neurofeedback clinically. - *28 CEs
Our course is a hands-on experience right from the start. Attendees consistently say this format is a very good way to learn Neurofeedback. "Neurofeedback should be viewed as one of the three essential or primary forms of intervention - psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and Neurofeedback. In my experience, neurofeedback is every bit as important and powerful as the other two forms of treatment." - Dr. Laurence Hirshberg, Brown University Medical School, psychologist specializing in Developmental Disorders and Autism. Contact Karie Kramer, our training coordinator, for more information 818-789-3456 ext 847 or see www.eegspectrum.com/Training * EEG Spectrum International, Inc. is approved by the APA to offer continuing education to psychologists. ESII maintains responsibility for the program. |
Conferences for Neurofeedback Clinicians & Researchers | ||
|---|---|---|
| CONFERENCE | LOCATION | DATES |
| AAPB - www.aapb.org | Portland, OR | Mar 30-Apr |
| ISNR - www.isnr.org | Atlanta GA | Sep 7-10 |
Selected Psych Films
With all that time in front of the tube, maybe some of it can be put to good use (besides watching The Apprentice or American Idol). Here is a list of films relevant to mental health that might have been forgotten: