Primary Reading Epilepsy

Ramani, Venkat

doi:10.1001/archneur.1983.04050010059016

Cited by 27 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…201 The mechanism by which reading precipitates seizures remains unclear. The only common factor seems to be the transformation of the linguistic material from graphics into language.…”

Section: Reading Epilepsymentioning

confidence: 99%

Cortical hyperexcitability and epileptogenesis: Understanding the mechanisms of epilepsy - Part 2

Badawy¹,

Harvey²,

Macdonell³

2009

Journal of Clinical Neuroscience

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“…201 The mechanism by which reading precipitates seizures remains unclear. The only common factor seems to be the transformation of the linguistic material from graphics into language.…”

Section: Reading Epilepsymentioning

confidence: 99%

Cortical hyperexcitability and epileptogenesis: Understanding the mechanisms of epilepsy - Part 2

Badawy¹,

Harvey²,

Macdonell³

2009

Journal of Clinical Neuroscience

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“…In this syndrome, seizures characteristically consist of reading-induced myoclonic jerks of the jaw or throat which may progress to generalised seizure activity 1 2 8. However, many other types of ictal symptoms have been described6: abrupt loss of consciousness,9 absences,10 paroxysmal a- or dyslexia1 11 and visual symptoms 6 8 12–17. Visual system abnormalities appear to be important in the generation of seizures in at least some reading epilepsy patients 6…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Variable cortical hyperexcitability may explain the variable distribution of epileptic discharges in reading epilepsy. Some cases of reading epilepsy are related to posterior epilepsies with particular implication of the left temporo-parieto-occipital junction 1 6 8 12 13 16 17 19…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reading epilepsy from the dominant temporo-occipital region

Gavaret

Guedj

Koessler

et al. 2009

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry

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Background Reading epilepsy is a rare form of epilepsy, classified among idiopathic, age-and localisation-related (partial) epilepsies as a reflex epilepsy syndrome. Seizures usually consist of myoclonic jerks restricted to the jaw. However, distinct ictal features including visual symptoms and paroxysmal a-or dyslexia are described in some patients. The anatomical substrate of ictogenesis in reading epilepsy remains poorly understood. Methods The authors report here the case of a primary reading epilepsy for which ictal semiology was characterised by visual symptoms and dyslexia, investigated by MRI, interictal high-resolution EEG and PET, ictal video-EEG and SPECT. Brain MRI was normal. Interictal high-resolution EEG was performed with 64 scalp channels, a realistic head model and different algorithms to solve the inverse problem. Results Interictal source localisations highlighted the left occipito-temporal junction. Interictal PET demonstrated bilateral occipito-temporal hypometabolism with leftsided predominance. Ictal EEG showed a rhythmic discharge in left temporo-parieto-occipital junction channels, with left occipito-temporal predominance. MRI fusion of the coregistered subtraction between ictal and interictal SPECT individualised relative hyperperfusion affecting (a) the left occipito-parietal junction area, (b) the left lateral middle and inferior temporal gyri and (c) the left inferior frontal area. Conclusion Besides reading-induced myoclonic jerks of the jaw, a second variant of reading epilepsy exists with clearly partial seizures manifested by visual symptoms and a-or dyslexia. These seizures originate from the occipito-temporal region of the dominant hemisphere, corresponding to the posterior part of the neural network that underlies the function of reading.

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“…Perhaps most interesting has been the question of the relative role of purely motor or proprioceptive versus cognitive factors (i.e., the semantic complexity of the material being read) in the production of fits induced by reading. It now seems clear that the degree of cognitive challenge posed by a text, and not simply the motor activity of reading or proprioceptive stimuli from jaw muscles, contributes to ictogenesis (e.g., Ramani, 1983). Thus, in some patients comprehension of a relatively complex text evokes seizures whereas reading of nonlexical material (nonsense words or words in isolation) does not (Kartsounis, 1988;however, Pegna et al [1999] distinguished a lexical or semantically triggered vs. a "sublexical" form in which nonword reading can serve as the precipitant).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, in most cases the sine qua non for a seizure involves reflex activation of a hyperexcitable network that subserves language and that extends over multiple cerebral regions (Koutroumanidis et al, 1998), although with a likely left frontotemporal predominance (Archer et al, 2003). Despite such clarifications the syndrome remains an esoteric and probably underestimated one (Ramani, 1998) and questions remain, for example, as to issues involving classification and the contribution of genetic factors (evident in some cases;see, e.g., Daly & Forster, 1975;Ramani, 1983). The syndrome remains a fascinating oneperhaps in part because of its proximity to one of the most evolutionarily advanced human activities.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Did Herbert Spencer Have Reading Epilepsy?

Raitiere

2011

Journal of the History of the Neurosciences

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Herbert Spencer, the nineteenth-century philosopher, has frequently been dismissed as a "fantastical hypochondriac" (as his most recent biographer, Mark Francis, terms him). Yet he left a record in his Autobiography of symptoms that suggest a very different diagnosis. Abruptly at age 35, he found that the activity of reading, previously indulged in without difficulty, triggered paroxysmal episodes of disturbing "head-sensations" including "giddiness" (so Spencer described them); these severely curtailed his ability to carry out his philosophical studies. Of all possible explanations for such episodes, none seems as likely as reading epilepsy. Enduring preconceptions about Spencer's presumed neurosesmay have kept modern historians from appreciating that Spencer suffered from a legitimate, if esoteric, neurological malady.

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Primary Reading Epilepsy

Cited by 27 publications

References 14 publications

Cortical hyperexcitability and epileptogenesis: Understanding the mechanisms of epilepsy - Part 2

Cortical hyperexcitability and epileptogenesis: Understanding the mechanisms of epilepsy - Part 2

Reading epilepsy from the dominant temporo-occipital region

Did Herbert Spencer Have Reading Epilepsy?

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