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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:

Brain Imaging

Brain Imaging

Brain imaging technologies provide critical insights into both the structure and function of the human brain, enabling medical professionals and researchers to diagnose, study, and treat neurological disorders or psychiatric disorders more effectively.
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).

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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

A Multimodal Imaging- and Stimulation-based Method of Evaluating Connectivity-related Brain Excitability in Patients with Epilepsy

A Multimodal Imaging- and Stimulation-based Method of Evaluating Connectivity-related Brain Excitability in Patients with Epilepsy

Published on: November 13, 2016

Update on neuroimaging in epilepsy.

Mark Richardson¹

¹P043 Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. mark.richardson@iop.kcl.ac.uk

Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics

|June 4, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Neuroimaging research in epilepsy is advancing rapidly, yet clinical applications beyond epilepsy surgery evaluation remain limited. Future efforts must focus on translating new neuroimaging techniques into practical patient benefits.

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Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

A Multimodal Imaging- and Stimulation-based Method of Evaluating Connectivity-related Brain Excitability in Patients with Epilepsy

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Area of Science:

Neurology
Radiology
Medical Imaging

Background:

Neuroimaging is a rapidly expanding field in epilepsy research.
While common epilepsy features are understood, clinical translation of new methods is lagging.
Epilepsy surgery evaluation is a notable exception with established neuroimaging impact.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide an overview of epilepsy neuroimaging literature from the past 5 years.
To highlight advancements in functional MRI and its applications.
To discuss clinical translation, opportunities, and future trends in epilepsy neuroimaging.

Main Methods:

Literature review of epilepsy neuroimaging studies published in the last 5 years.
Emphasis on mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and idiopathic generalized epilepsies.
Focus on advancements in functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).

Main Results:

The epilepsy neuroimaging field is characterized by rapid adoption of new techniques and extensive literature.
Significant advancements have been made in functional MRI techniques.
Clinical impact of new neuroimaging methods outside of presurgical evaluation has been limited.

Conclusions:

There is a critical need to bridge the gap between neuroimaging research and clinical practice in epilepsy.
Opportunities exist for immediate clinical translation of emerging neuroimaging tools.
Future trends point towards greater integration of advanced neuroimaging in epilepsy management.