Neupsy Key

Drugs targeting the Na+ channel reduce the likelihood of a seizure by either increasing the amount of time the channel stays in the inactive state or by altering the shape…

The cellular events that underlie the ability of NRT neurons to shift between an oscillatory and tonic firing mode are the low-threshold (T) Ca2+ spikes that are present in thalamocortical…

Epilepsy is a paroxysmal disorder characterized by abnormal neuronal discharges. Although epilepsy has many causes, the fundamental disorder is secondary to abnormal synchronous discharges of a network of neurons. Epilepsy…

The two most important ions in the transmission of action potentials are Na+ and potassium K+. Voltage-gated Na+ channels have three types of states: deactivated (closed), activated (open), and inactivated…

Genetic and Neurometabolic Causes. There are many genetic and neurometabolic causes that lead to seizures, typically beginning in childhood. Genetic disorders include disorders such as severe myoclonic epilepsy of childhood,…

Convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) is one of the most common medical neurologic emergencies and continues to be associated with significant mortality and morbidity. In people with epilepsy, CSE is often…

An example of an epileptic syndrome with generalized seizures is juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). The seizure types are generalized tonic-clonic, absence, or myoclonic, which often occur upon awakening. The seizures…

Neonatal seizures are classified as clonic, tonic, and myoclonic. Clonic seizures consist of rhythmic jerking of groups of muscles and occur in either a focal or multifocal pattern. In multifocal…

In the untreated patient, absence seizures can occur quite frequently during the day. They sometimes occur in clusters, particularly when the child is tired or drowsy. In a child not…

The EEG in focal seizures is characterized by focal spikes or sharp waves. There is often a relationship between the location of the spikes and the seizure type, that is,…