What is the importance of abnormal "background" activity in seizure generation?
Richard J Staba1, Gregory A Worrell
1Department of Neurology, Reed Neurological Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 710 Westwood Plaza, RNRC 2-155, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA, rstaba@mednet.ucla.edu.
Abstract:
Investigations of interictal epileptiform spikes and seizures have played a central role in the study of epilepsy. The background EEG activity, however, has received less attention. In this chapter we discuss the characteristic features of the background activity of the brain when individuals are at rest and awake (resting wake) and during sleep. The characteristic rhythms of the background EEG are presented, and the presence of 1/f (β) behavior of the EEG power spectral density is discussed and its possible origin and functional significance. The interictal EEG findings of focal epilepsy and the impact of interictal epileptiform spikes on cognition are also discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Seizures l: Introduction
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
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 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


