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Related Concept Videos

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

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: Types01:22

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 l: Introduction01:20

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,...
Electroconvulsive Therapy01:30

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early years,...
Psychosurgery01:30

Psychosurgery

Psychosurgery, the surgical alteration or permanent removal of brain tissue to alleviate severe psychological conditions, stands as one of the most radical and controversial treatments in the history of mental health care. Its development and application have evolved significantly, marked by dramatic shifts in scientific understanding and ethical perspectives.
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
Seizures: Classification01:13

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:

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

Performing Behavioral Tasks in Subjects with Intracranial Electrodes
12:10

Performing Behavioral Tasks in Subjects with Intracranial Electrodes

Published on: October 2, 2014

Epilepsy surgery utilization: who, when, where, and why?

Samuel Wiebe1, Nathalie Jetté

  • 1Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. swiebe@ucalgary.ca

Current Opinion in Neurology
|February 11, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Epilepsy surgery is highly effective for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), yet remains underutilized. Further interventions are needed to improve patient access to this vital treatment.

More Related Videos

Stereo-Electro-Encephalo-Graphy (SEEG) With Robotic Assistance in the Presurgical Evaluation of Medical Refractory Epilepsy: A Technical Note
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Stereo-Electro-Encephalo-Graphy (SEEG) With Robotic Assistance in the Presurgical Evaluation of Medical Refractory Epilepsy: A Technical Note

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Network Analysis of Foramen Ovale Electrode Recordings in Drug-resistant Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Patients
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Network Analysis of Foramen Ovale Electrode Recordings in Drug-resistant Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Patients

Published on: December 18, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 25, 2026

Performing Behavioral Tasks in Subjects with Intracranial Electrodes
12:10

Performing Behavioral Tasks in Subjects with Intracranial Electrodes

Published on: October 2, 2014

Stereo-Electro-Encephalo-Graphy (SEEG) With Robotic Assistance in the Presurgical Evaluation of Medical Refractory Epilepsy: A Technical Note
05:54

Stereo-Electro-Encephalo-Graphy (SEEG) With Robotic Assistance in the Presurgical Evaluation of Medical Refractory Epilepsy: A Technical Note

Published on: June 13, 2016

Network Analysis of Foramen Ovale Electrode Recordings in Drug-resistant Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Patients
09:32

Network Analysis of Foramen Ovale Electrode Recordings in Drug-resistant Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Patients

Published on: December 18, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Epileptology

Background:

  • Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
  • Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) affects a significant portion of patients who do not respond to anti-seizure medications.
  • Epilepsy surgery offers a potential curative or significantly impactful treatment option for select DRE patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an updated review of epilepsy surgery.
  • To focus on the effectiveness of surgical interventions.
  • To explore reasons for the underutilization of epilepsy surgery and discuss candidacy and referral timing.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent evidence on epilepsy surgery outcomes.
  • Analysis of factors contributing to the underuse of surgical referrals.
  • Examination of current and developing guidelines for patient selection and referral.

Main Results:

  • Epilepsy surgery demonstrates high effectiveness in carefully selected DRE patients.
  • Despite proven efficacy and established risk-benefit profiles, epilepsy surgery is significantly underutilized globally.
  • Existing clinical practice guidelines and randomized trials have not demonstrably increased referral rates.

Conclusions:

  • Epilepsy surgery is an effective treatment that is currently underused.
  • There is an urgent need for comprehensive strategies to translate evidence into practice and increase surgical referrals for eligible DRE patients.