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

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...

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.

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:

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...

Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Alzheimer disease involves structural changes in the brain that begin long before symptoms appear. The most distinctive features are extracellular neuritic plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Neuritic plaques form in the cerebral cortex and around blood vessels. These plaques contain a dense core of beta-amyloid (Aβ)—a toxic protein fragment that clumps outside neurons. The core is surrounded by damaged neuronal extensions, as well as reactive astrocytes and microglia. Abnormal...

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,...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Results from the T2K Experiment on Neutrino Mixing Including a New Far Detector μ-like Sample.

Physical review letters·2026

Same author

First Differential Measurement of the Single π^{+} Production Cross Section in Neutrino Neutral-Current Scattering.

Physical review letters·2025

Same author

First Measurement of the Electron-Neutrino Charged-Current Pion Production Cross Section on Carbon with the T2K Near Detector.

Physical review letters·2025

Same author

First Joint Oscillation Analysis of Super-Kamiokande Atmospheric and T2K Accelerator Neutrino Data.

Physical review letters·2025

Same author

UNITY: A low-field magnetic resonance neuroimaging initiative to characterize neurodevelopment in low and middle-income settings.

Developmental cognitive neuroscience·2024

Same author

Arterial thromboembolism in a cat with transient myocardial thickening.

Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Assessment of Memory Function in Pilocarpine-induced Epileptic Mice

Assessment of Memory Function in Pilocarpine-induced Epileptic Mice

Published on: June 4, 2020

Focal structural changes and cognitive dysfunction in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

J O'Muircheartaigh¹, C Vollmar, G J Barker

¹Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK.

|January 6, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is linked to subtle brain abnormalities in the supplementary motor area and posterior cingulate cortex. These findings from MRI and neuropsychological tests offer new insights into JME's underlying neurological basis.

More Related Videos

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Published on: September 20, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Assessment of Memory Function in Pilocarpine-induced Epileptic Mice

Assessment of Memory Function in Pilocarpine-induced Epileptic Mice

Published on: June 4, 2020

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Published on: September 20, 2024

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Neurology
Medical Imaging

Background:

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is a common epilepsy syndrome.
Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of JME is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate focal cortical abnormalities in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME).
To correlate neuroimaging findings with neuropsychological performance.

Main Methods:

Employed neuropsychological tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 28 JME patients and controls.
Utilized diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to assess white matter integrity (fractional anisotropy - FA).
Applied voxel-based morphometry (VBM) for gray matter volume (GMV) analysis.

Main Results:

Neuropsychological deficits were observed in verbal fluency, comprehension, expression, nonverbal memory, and mental flexibility.
Reduced gray matter volume (GMV) in the supplementary motor area (SMA) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC).
Reduced FA in the white matter of the corpus callosum, with SMA FA predicting naming and expression, and PCC GMV/FA predicting cognitive inhibition.

Conclusions:

Mesial frontal cortex, particularly the SMA, and PCC are implicated in JME.
Structural and functional brain alterations correlate with cognitive deficits in JME.
Findings highlight the role of specific cortical and white matter regions in JME pathophysiology.