Epilepsy and the renaissance of consciousness From intricately interwoven philosophical theories to its proclaimed symbiosis with religion, the mysterious concept of consciousness presents humankind with a dilemma. The past decade has witnessed a metamorphosis of interest, since neuroscientific curiosity and empirical scrutiny have flourished in place of theoretical debate (Zeman2001). Scientific understanding of consciousness has been hampered to some degree by notorious ambiguities linked with the multifaceted term. The clinical relevance of consciousness, however, is indisputable; spanning from neurodegenerative dementias to coma and vegetative states and from sleep disorders to epilepsy (Cavanna and Monaco 2009). The connection between epilepsy and consciousness is longstanding. Current classification recognizes the dichotomy between “partial” seizures (involving focal brain regions or confined to one hemisphere) and “generalized” seizures (involving diffuse brain regions throughout both hemispheres) (Engel 2001). Transient impairments of consciousness have long been considered a trademark of generalized seizure activity (Zappulla 1997). However, epileptic seizures as a whole represent a spectrum of disorders of underlying dynamic and reversible brain dysfunction that generate selective impairment of consciousness, ranging from minor impairment of attention to total behavioral unresponsiveness. Furthermore, International League Against Epilepsy criteria have previously dictated impairment of consciousness to be a major definitional criterion in the differentiation between “simple” and “complex” partial seizures (Commission on Classification and Terminology of the International League Against Epilepsy 1981).
Cavanna, A., Ali, F. (2011). Brain mechanisms of impaired consciousness in epilepsy. In M.R. Michael R. Trimble, B. Schmitz (a cura di), The Neuropsychiatry of Epilepsy, Second Edition (pp. 209-220). Cambridge University Press [10.1017/CBO9780511977145.018].
Brain mechanisms of impaired consciousness in epilepsy
Cavanna A;
2011
Abstract
Epilepsy and the renaissance of consciousness From intricately interwoven philosophical theories to its proclaimed symbiosis with religion, the mysterious concept of consciousness presents humankind with a dilemma. The past decade has witnessed a metamorphosis of interest, since neuroscientific curiosity and empirical scrutiny have flourished in place of theoretical debate (Zeman2001). Scientific understanding of consciousness has been hampered to some degree by notorious ambiguities linked with the multifaceted term. The clinical relevance of consciousness, however, is indisputable; spanning from neurodegenerative dementias to coma and vegetative states and from sleep disorders to epilepsy (Cavanna and Monaco 2009). The connection between epilepsy and consciousness is longstanding. Current classification recognizes the dichotomy between “partial” seizures (involving focal brain regions or confined to one hemisphere) and “generalized” seizures (involving diffuse brain regions throughout both hemispheres) (Engel 2001). Transient impairments of consciousness have long been considered a trademark of generalized seizure activity (Zappulla 1997). However, epileptic seizures as a whole represent a spectrum of disorders of underlying dynamic and reversible brain dysfunction that generate selective impairment of consciousness, ranging from minor impairment of attention to total behavioral unresponsiveness. Furthermore, International League Against Epilepsy criteria have previously dictated impairment of consciousness to be a major definitional criterion in the differentiation between “simple” and “complex” partial seizures (Commission on Classification and Terminology of the International League Against Epilepsy 1981).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.