Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Seizures l: Introduction

Seizures l: Introduction

Understanding seizures and epilepsy relies on key definitions that help in recognizing, classifying, and managing these disorders. These definitions provide a framework for recognizing, classifying, and managing seizure disorders.DefinitionsA seizure is a sudden, abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in awareness, movement, sensation, or behavior, depending on the area involved. Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures,...

Seizures ll: Types

Seizures ll: Types

Seizures are sudden bursts of abnormal electrical discharge in the brain that interfere with normal function. They are commonly divided into three groups: focal seizures, generalized seizures, and other types that do not fit neatly into either category.Focal SeizuresFocal seizures begin in a single brain region. When awareness is preserved, they are called focal aware seizures and may cause sensations such as tingling, unusual smells, or flashing lights. When awareness is impaired, they are...

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...

Seizures: Classification

Seizures: Classification

Epilepsy is primarily characterized by unpredictable seizures, either provoked by an identifiable factor, such as injury or illness, or unprovoked, occurring spontaneously without apparent cause.
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:

Epilepsy ll: Types

Epilepsy ll: Types

Recurrent seizures, stemming from abnormal electrical activity in the brain, are the defining characteristic of epilepsy, a chronic neurological condition. Because seizure features vary greatly, epilepsy is classified using two systems: by seizure type and by epilepsy syndromes. These classifications enable clinicians to describe seizure patterns and select suitable treatment strategies.I. Classification by Seizure Type1. Focal EpilepsyFocal epilepsy begins in one hemisphere of the brain.

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Does having bad epilepsy make you a good surgical candidate? A number needed to treat analysis.

Epilepsia open·2026

Same author

White matter resection and verbal memory deficits after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery.

Brain communications·2026

Same author

Emerging technologies and strategies in epilepsy surgery: toward personalised medicine.

The Lancet. Neurology·2025

Same author

A systematic survey of the measures used to identify postoperative changes in language function following epilepsy surgery.

Epilepsia open·2025

Same author

Brain Sex: Differences That Do Not Differentiate.

Archives of sexual behavior·2025

Same author

Diagnostic Challenges in the Neuropsychology of Epilepsy: Report of the ILAE Neuropsychology Task Force Diagnostic Methods Commission: 2021-2025.

Epileptic disorders : international epilepsy journal with videotape·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Multi-system Monitoring for Identification of Seizures, Arrhythmias and Apnea in Conscious Restrained Rabbits

Multi-system Monitoring for Identification of Seizures, Arrhythmias and Apnea in Conscious Restrained Rabbits

Published on: March 27, 2021

Seeing the light? Seizures and sunlight.

Sallie Baxendale¹

¹Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology UCL, Queen Square, London, UK. sallieb@ion.ucl.ac.uk

Epilepsy Research

|January 16, 2009

Summary

Bright sunny days correlate with fewer epileptic seizures, especially complex partial seizures, compared to dull days. This suggests potential light therapy for intractable epilepsy.

Area of Science:

Neurology
Environmental Medicine

Background:

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
Environmental factors, such as weather patterns, may influence seizure occurrence.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between daily sunlight levels and seizure frequency in an inpatient epilepsy monitoring unit.
To determine if sunlight exposure affects epileptic seizures differently from non-epileptic attacks.

Main Methods:

Analysis of 1715 seizures recorded over 363 days (2006-2007) on an epilepsy inpatient ward.
Correlation of seizure occurrence with daily weather patterns, specifically sunlight intensity (sunny vs. dull days).
Statistical control for seasonal variations to isolate the effect of sunlight.

More Related Videos

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy

Published on: April 11, 2019

A Behavioral Screen for Heat-Induced Seizures in Mouse Models of Epilepsy

A Behavioral Screen for Heat-Induced Seizures in Mouse Models of Epilepsy

Published on: July 12, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Multi-system Monitoring for Identification of Seizures, Arrhythmias and Apnea in Conscious Restrained Rabbits

Multi-system Monitoring for Identification of Seizures, Arrhythmias and Apnea in Conscious Restrained Rabbits

Published on: March 27, 2021

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy

Published on: April 11, 2019

A Behavioral Screen for Heat-Induced Seizures in Mouse Models of Epilepsy

A Behavioral Screen for Heat-Induced Seizures in Mouse Models of Epilepsy

Published on: July 12, 2021

Main Results:

A significant inverse correlation was found between bright sunny days and the occurrence of epileptic seizures, particularly complex partial seizures.
This correlation persisted even after controlling for seasonal influences.
Non-epileptic attacks did not show a similar pattern in relation to sunlight levels.

Conclusions:

Sunlight exposure appears to have a modulatory effect on seizure frequency in some epilepsy patients.
The findings suggest a potential avenue for novel, non-invasive treatments, such as light box therapy, for medically intractable epilepsy.
Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the relationship between sunlight and seizure activity.