What causes epilepsy in the brain?
What causes epilepsy? In general, epilepsy and seizures result from abnormal circuit activity in the brain. Any event ranging from faulty wiring during brain development, brain inflammation, physical injury or infection can lead to seizure and epilepsy.
What part of the brain is involved in epilepsy?
The hippocampus and epilepsy Lying in the middle of the brain is part of the temporal lobe called the hippocampus. This part of the brain is involved in learning and in forming memories. If the hippocampus is damaged, it can cause epilepsy in some people.
Which disorder is caused by sudden abnormal electrical signals occurring in the brain?
Epilepsy is a very common condition in the brain that causes seizures. Brain cells communicate with each other through electrical signals. Seizures occur when brain cells have a burst of abnormal electrical activity.
What does abnormal brain activity mean?
An abnormal EEG means that there is a problem in an area of brain activity. This can offer a clue in diagnosing various neurological conditions. Read 10 Conditions Diagnosed With an EEG to learn more. EEG testing is one part of making a diagnosis.
What causes abnormal electrical activity in the brain?
Abnormal electrical activity in the brain triggers seizure activity. A person may have a seizure disorder (epilepsy) and require medications. Other factors such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which is a diabetic reaction, may cause seizures. Meningitis or a head injury may also cause a seizure.
What is brain electrical activity?
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test that detects electrical activity in your brain using small, metal discs (electrodes) attached to your scalp. Your brain cells communicate via electrical impulses and are active all the time, even when you’re asleep. This activity shows up as wavy lines on an EEG recording.
What does electrical activity in the brain mean?
‘Brain waves’ and electrical signals So when the brain is ‘working’ cells communicate using electrical signals, and when they do this they ‘give off’ electricity. It is this electrical activity, sometimes called ‘brain waves’, that is picked up on by EEG.
Do you get light headed before a seizure?
Vertiginous epilepsy is infrequently the first symptom of a seizure, characterized by a feeling of vertigo. When it occurs, there is a sensation of rotation or movement that lasts for a few seconds before full seizure activity.
How can you tell the difference between a seizure and a syncope?
A blue face during the event was more common with a seizure, and a pale face was more common with syncope. Nausea or sweating before the event and orientation immediately after the event were used to exclude a seizure.
Can you have a seizure and not lose consciousness?
Usually, people experiencing a simple partial seizure do not lose consciousness or awareness. Simple partial seizures are a seizure type where one side of the brain is initially affected.
What are symptoms of mini seizures?
Symptoms of simple partial seizures are:
- Muscle tightening.
- Unusual head movements.
- Blank stares.
- Eyes moving from side to side.
- Numbness.
- Tingling.
- Skin crawling (like ants crawling on the skin)
- Hallucinations- seeing, smelling, or hearing things that are not there.
What does a mini seizure look like?
Absence seizures, previously known as petit mal seizures, often occur in children and are characterized by staring into space or by subtle body movements, such as eye blinking or lip smacking. They usually last for five to 10 seconds but may happen up to hundreds of times per day.
What is a Jacksonian seizure?
A Jacksonian seizure is a type of focal partial seizure, also known as a simple partial seizure. This means the seizure is caused by unusual electrical activity that affects only a small area of the brain. The person maintains awareness during the seizure.