Blinking and eyelid myoclonia: Characteristics and correlations of eyelid movements

Abstract

Despite normal physiology of blinking, EM can manifest as jerk, flicker or flutter, with or without EEG abnormalities and independently of IPS, suggesting that eye closure sensitivity seems to include both, a motor and a visual component.

Cognitive performance in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy patients with specific endophenotypes

“…Subsequent combined functional and structural connectivity analyses in JME showed decreased connectivity between the prefrontal and fronto-polar regions, possibly accounting for dysfunction of cognitive frontal lobe and impairment in executive functions, frequently reported in this epileptic syndrome [57]. Furthermore, increased connectivity was observed not only between the motor cortex and the prefrontal cortex but also between the supplementary motor area and the occipital cortex, explaining eye-closure and photo sensitivity, epileptic traits expressed by up to 15-20% and up to 50% of JME patients, respectively [40,57,58].…”

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy as a spectrum disorder: A focused review

“…However, 3 s later during the myocloni, the activation was in the supplementary motor area (SMA) where slow eye closure is generated. In addition, according to da Conceição et al [38] myocloni in patients with ECS occur sometimes without concomitant SW. Also, all patients of Vaudano et al were photosensitive so their finding of occipital activation could primarily be related to PS [39]. Thus, the ictogenic mechanism of ECS seems to involve both occipital cortex and SMA in a still unclarified interaction [33].…”

“…ECS is a central feature in Jeavons syndrome (eyelid myoclonia with absences) and a frequent trait in JME but may also occur in other contexts [37]. ECS is only seen with active eye closure, not with automatic or nociceptive reflex blinks [38]. In an elegant fMRI study of ECS in Jeavons syndrome Vaudano et al [39] found activation of the occipital cortex at eye closure and concluded that the eyelid myocloni were generated there.…”

Reflex epileptic mechanisms in humans: Lessons about natural ictogenesis

“…However, the eyelid myocloni of ECS are not invariably accompanied by SW discharges [15]. In addition, ECS is only provoked by (voluntary or involuntary) slow eye closure which is generated in the supplementary motor area (SMA) and never by physiological blinking or by nociceptive reflex blinks in response to visual threats which are generated in the brain stem.…”

“…In addition, ECS is only provoked by (voluntary or involuntary) slow eye closure which is generated in the supplementary motor area (SMA) and never by physiological blinking or by nociceptive reflex blinks in response to visual threats which are generated in the brain stem. Therefore, the SMA has, certainly, a central role in the ictogenesis, and its interaction with the visual system still remains to be clarified [15].…”