New comments on the epilepsy of Fyodor Dostoevsky

Based on recent data on the symptomatology of epileptic seizures and the interictal behavior shown by Dostoevsky, the author considers the debate open as to whether Dostoevsky presented primary generalized epilepsy or temporal lobe epilepsy. It is concluded that the most reasonable hypothesis on this subject is an eclectic one, wherein both etiologies of epilepsy would have been present with Dostoevsky displaying both of the following: a lesion of the temporal lobe of very discreet magnitude, thus lacking mental or somatic expression in the interictal period; and a constitutional predisposition to epilepsy of sufficient magnitude to render epileptogenic this otherwise silent temporal lesion, thus leading to a practically immediate secondary generalization of each seizure.