Descriptive Words Relating to Epilepsy   A description of Medical Terms and Diagnostic Terminology that you may come across when dealing with Epilepsy or seizures.   AEDs Anti Epileptic Drugs ANTEROGRADE MEMORY The ability to form new memories; memories for events occurring after a problem such as a head trauma or seizure. AMBULATORY EEG MONITORING A system for recording the electroencephalogram for a prolonged period (typically 18 to 24 hours) in an outpatient; the electrodes are connected to a small cassette tape recorder. ADJUNCT Something added to another thing in a subordinate position or use; for example, an adjunct drug is one used in addition to another drug, not alone (add-on therapy). AUTOINDUCTION (of metabolism): A process in which continued administration of a drug leads to an increase in the rate at which the drug is metabolized AUTOMIC   Pertaining to the autonomic nervous system, which controls bodily functions that are not under conscious control (e.g., heartbeat, breathing, sweating); some partial seizures may cause only autonomic symptoms; changes in autonomic functions are common during many seizures. AUTOSOMAL DOMINANT A mode of inheritance in which a gene is passed on by either parent; in most cases, the child has a 50% chance of inheriting the gene; the expression of the gene (that is, the development of the physical trait or the disorder) can vary considerably among different individuals with the same gene. AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE A mode of inheritance in which an individual has two copies of a gene that requires both copies for expression, or development, of the trait. Both parents must be carriers (that is, they have only one copy of the gene and, therefore, do not have the physical trait that the gene confers) or have the trait (that is, have two copies of the same gene). AXON The part of the nerve cell (neuron) that communicates with other cells, similar to a telephone wire; the axon is often covered with myelin, an insulating fatty layer, which functions similarly to plastic around a copper wire. CATAMENIAL Referring to the menses or to menstruation; with regard to women with epilepsy, a tendency for seizures to occur around the time of the menses. CEREBRAL HEMISPHERE One side of the cerebrum (upper brain); each hemisphere contains four lobes (frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal). COGNITIVE Pertaining to the mental processes of perceiving, thinking, and remembering; used loosely to refer to intellectual functions as opposed to physical functions. COMORBID A disorder that is present in association with another COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT): A scanning technique that uses x-rays and computers to create pictures of the inside of the body; shows the structure of the brain; not as sensitive as MRI. CONSCIOUSNESS   State of awareness; if consciousness is preserved during a seizure, the person can respond (either in words or actions, such as raising a hand on command) and recall what occurred during the spell CONVULSION An older term for a tonic-clonic seizure. CORPUS CALLOSTOMY A surgical technique that disconnects the cerebral hemispheres and is most effective in reducing atonic and tonic-clonic seizures. CORTICAL DYSPLASIA An abnormality in the development and organization of the cerebral cortex that can cause seizures and other neurologic disorders. These disorders can result from abnormal migration of nerve cells during development or can occur with disorders such as tuberous sclerosis or Sturge-Weber syndrome. DEJA VU Feeling as if one has lived through or experienced this moment before; may occur in people without any medical problems or immediately before a seizure (i.e., as a simple partial seizure). EFFICACY Effectiveness ELECTRODE A conductor through which electrical current enters or leaves. When used to record the electroencephalogram, a small metal disc attached to a wire is usually used. ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM  (EEG): A diagnostic test of brain electrical activity; helpful in diagnosing Epilepsy. EPILEPSIA PARTIALIS CONTINUA A continuous or prolonged partial seizure that causes contraction of the muscles; usually restricted to the muscles of the face, arm, or leg; usually not associated with impairment of consciousness. EPILEPTOGENESIS The process(es) that lead to the development of epilepsy EPILEPTOLOGIST A neurologist with specialty training in epilepsy. EXCITATORY Stimulating or increasing brain electrical activity; causing nerve cells to fire. FEBRILE SEIZURE A seizure associated with high fever in children aged 3 months to 5 years, usually a tonic-clonic seizure; benign in most cases. GAUCHER’S DISEASE A lysosomal storage disorder due to a deficiency of glucocerebrosidase resulting in accumulation of glucocerebroside; high incidence among persons of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. HEMISPHERECTOMY A surgical procedure to remove a cerebral hemisphere (one side of the brain); the operation is now often modified to remove a portion of the hemisphere and to disconnect the remaining portions. HYDROCEPHALUS A condition associated with obstruction of the cerebrospinal fluid pathways in the brain and accumulation of excess cerebrospinal fluid within the skull.  HYPERVENTILATION Increased rate and depth of breathing; may be done during the EEG to increase the chances of finding epileptiform or other abnormal activity HYPSARRHYTHMIA An abnormal EEG pattern of excessive slow activity and multiple areas of epileptiform activity; associated with infantile spasms ICTAL Referring to the period during a sudden attack, such as a seizure or stroke. IDIOPATHIC Referring to a disorder of unknown cause.   IDIOSYNCRATIC Pertaining to an abnormal susceptibility to some drug or other agent, peculiar to the individual INTERICTAL Referring to the period between seizures MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) A scanning technique that creates pictures of the inside of the body and the brain; uses a strong magnet (does not use x-rays); more sensitive than CT MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY (MRS) A scanning technique that examines the atoms hydrogen and phosphorus to glean information about chemical activity in small areas of the brain. MAGNETOENCEPHALOGRAPHY (MEG) Recording the brain's magnetic activity, which is generated by its electrical activity NARCOLEPSY A condition characterized by sudden and uncontrollable attacks of sleep. SHARP WAVE An EEG pattern indicating the potential for epilepsy; “benign” sharp waves are not associated with seizures SINGLE-PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (SPECT) A diagnostic test that uses a very low and safe dose of a radioactive compound to measure blood flow in the brain; not as sensitive as PET for baseline (interictal) studies but can more readily be obtained during a seizure. STATUS EPILEPTICUS A prolonged seizure (usually defined as lasting longer than 30 minutes) or a series of repeated seizures; a continuous state of seizure activity; may occur in almost any seizure type. Status epilepticus is a medical emergency, and medical help should be obtained immediately SYMPTOMATIC Referring to a disorder with an identifiable cause; for example, severe head trauma can cause symptomatic epilepsy SYNDROME A group of signs and symptoms that collectively define or characterize a disease or disorder; signs are objective findings such as weakness, and symptoms are subjective findings such as a feeling of fear or tingling in a finger. THERAPEUTIC BLOOD LEVEL The amount of drug circulating in the bloodstream that brings about seizure control without troublesome adverse effects in most patients. “Subtherapeutic” (lower) levels are effective in some patients, and “supratherapeutic” or “toxic” (higher) levels are tolerated by others VAGUS NERVE STIMULATOR (VNS) A pacemaker-like device, implanted in the upper chest, which stimulates a nerve in the left neck and can reduce seizure activity VIDEO-EEG MONITORING A technique for recording the behaviour and the EEG of a patient simultaneously; changes in behaviour can be correlated with changes in the EEG; useful for making the diagnosis of epilepsy and localizing the seizure focus WEST’S SYNDROME An epileptic syndrome characterized by infantile spasms, mental retardation, and an abnormal EEG pattern (hypsarrhythmia); begins before 1 year of age.