Hyporeflexia/Peripheral Neuropathy Hypoactive reflexes are caused by disease between the spinal cord and muscle, typically involving the root, plexus, or peripheral nerves. Reduced reflexes indicate that one or more components…
Hyperreflexia Normal reflexes suggest that the motor system is functioning appropriately. The main motor pathway, the corticospinal tract, descends from the cortex to different segments of the spinal cord. Neurons…
Vertigo-Dizziness William Osler once was quoted as saying that no physician can hear the presenting complaint of “dizziness” without experiencing a sinking feeling. Although dizziness as a presentation is one…
Left Hemiplegia When examining a patient with a left hemiplegia or hemiparesis, nondominant hemisphere function rather than aphasia testing is stressed. Even in left-handed patients, the right hemisphere is usually…
Right Hemiplegia When examining a patient who has right hemiplegia (paralysis) or right hemiparesis (weakness), establish whether the lesion is cortical, subcortical, in the brainstem, or in the spinal cord…
Localization There are three questions that have to be answered in assessing every patient with possible neurologic disease. These must be answered in order, or it is difficult to make…
Driving and Social Issues in Epilepsy Joseph F. Drazkowski Joseph I. Sirven A person with epilepsy faces many social concerns that are taken for granted by those without the disorder…
Psychiatric Comorbidity of Epilepsy Steven C. Schachter Epilepsy is a model for brain-behavior relationships. Seizures affect behavior, and behavior affects seizures. Psychiatric comorbidity is common among patients with epilepsy, the…
