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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 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...

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).

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 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

[Neuroimaging in epilepsy].

Yukihiro Yamao¹, Takeharu Kunieda, Takayuki Kikuchi

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.

Brain and Nerve = Shinkei Kenkyu No Shinpo

|May 14, 2013

Summary

Advanced neuroimaging techniques like MRI and CT are crucial for identifying brain lesions in epilepsy patients. Other methods like PET, SPECT, and MEG help pinpoint the seizure focus and map brain networks for effective epilepsy surgery.

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Last Updated: May 11, 2026

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

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

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

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Area of Science:

Neurology
Radiology
Neurosurgery

Background:

Epilepsy diagnosis and surgical planning increasingly rely on advanced neuroimaging.
Identifying intracranial lesions and the epileptogenic zone is critical for treatment.
Preserving brain function alongside seizure control is a key goal in epilepsy management.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the role of various neuroimaging modalities in epilepsy evaluation and surgical planning.
To highlight the importance of identifying both structural lesions and functional brain networks.
To emphasize the need for continued development in neuroimaging techniques for epilepsy.

Main Methods:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) for lesion detection.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), and Magnetoencephalography (MEG) for identifying the epileptic focus.
Functional MRI (fMRI), Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI) tractography, and Cortico-Cortical Evoked Potentials (CCEP) for mapping brain function and networks.

Main Results:

MRI/CT identify structural abnormalities like hippocampal sclerosis, tumors, and vascular malformations.
PET, SPECT, and MEG can localize the seizure onset zone, even when distinct from structural lesions.
Advanced techniques like fMRI, DWI tractography, and CCEP are vital for mapping critical brain areas and networks.

Conclusions:

Comprehensive neuroimaging is essential for accurate epilepsy diagnosis and surgical intervention.
A combination of structural and functional imaging techniques is necessary to optimize patient outcomes.
Further advancements in neuroimaging are required to improve seizure control and functional preservation in epilepsy surgery.