Inhibitory epilepsy

Unlike post-epileptic paralysis, inhibitory epilepsy is rare and not well known. Differentiation between the two phenomena is usually difficult because both may have associated seizures. A satisfactory physiological explanation has yet to be advanced to account for the paraplysis. The present is a report of such a case together with the results of electroencephalographic, electromyographic and nerve conduction studies both during and after an attack of paralysis. The results suggest that inhibitory impulses originating from higher centres acting on the upper motor neurone itself leaving the anterior horn cell and possibly the upper motor neurone input to the gamma efferents switched off, are probably responsible for the paralysis.