Understanding of Consciousness in Absence Seizures: A Literature Review

Overview

Journal Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat

Publisher Dove Medical Press

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2024 Jul 1

PMID 38947367

Authors

Emilie Groulx-Boivin

Tasha Bouchet

Kenneth A Myers

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Absence seizures are classically associated with behavioral arrest and transient deficits in consciousness, yet substantial variability exists in the severity of the impairment. Despite several decades of research on the topic, the pathophysiology of absence seizures and the mechanisms underlying behavioral impairment remain unclear. Several rationales have been proposed including widespread cortical deactivation, reduced perception of external stimuli, and transient suspension of the default mode network, among others. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the neural correlates of impaired consciousness in absence seizures. We review evidence from studies using animal models of absence epilepsy, electroencephalography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, magnetoencephalography, positron emission tomography, and single photon emission computed tomography.

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