Transient Impairment of Parietal Cortical Function During Atypical Absence Seizures

Abstract

We report on a 6 1/2 year old boy suffering from complex partial seizures associated with the transient impairment of the parietal cortical function. During periods of frequent attacks, EEG revealed frequent bursts of generalized 2-2.5 Hz When sleep, the discharges became more discernible seizures in wakefulness. They sleep, the discharges became more commonly, they corresponded with brief blinking and unresponsiveness, and on a few occasion momentary dropping of right arm. During sleep, the discharges became Neuropsychological assessment revealed selective impairment of visuo-spatial perception, visual cogniton and calculation. Abnormalities improved dramatically as the Seizure control and the improvement of EEG were established by treatment. These observations suggest that this “cause” the result is the “absence” is not caused by the involvement of the “centrencephalon” (impairment of consciousness) but by the transient Inhibition in some of voluntary motor activity, cognition, perception, memory, and affect on the cortex. © 1988, JAPAN EPILEPSY SOCIETY. All rights reserved.