Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Induction of an Isoelectric Brain State to Investigate the Impact of Endogenous Synaptic Activity on Neuronal Excitability In Vivo
Published on: March 31, 2016
Effects of sleep on the postictal state
1Columbia Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, New York, NY 10032, USA. cwb11@columbia.edu
Abstract:
The postictal state can be particularly confusing when occurring in association with sleep. Some seizures tend to occur predominantly or exclusively during sleep; as the patient may be unaware of the seizure itself, the postictal state may be the only observed manifestation. Seizures and postictal phenomena occurring during sleep can also lead to diagnostic confusion particularly with parasomnias. Confusion or apparent sleepwalking, for example, could be a postictal phenomenon or could be an independent parasomnia. Awareness of the various manifestations of sleep disorders, seizures, and postictal phenomena during sleep is critical to optimal diagnosis and treatment of patients with epilepsy.
Related Concept Videos
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Understanding Sleep
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
Stages of Sleep
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
Sleep-Wake Cycles
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Seizures l: Introduction
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
