

Other version: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119003574/abstract
![]() |
Distinct behavioral and EEG topographic correlates of loss of consciousness in absences |
|
Authors | ||
Published in | Epilepsia. 2000, vol. 41, no. 6, p. 687-693 | |
Abstract | PURPOSE: To describe the behavioral and EEG topographic correlates of absences with 3-Hz generalized spike-waves and partitioned impairment of consciousness. METHODS: Two adult women had so-called "phantom" absences, characterized by brief and mild impairments of consciousness that were previously inconspicuous to both patient and physician. Neuropsychological examination was performed under video-EEG monitoring during absence status. EEG topographic mapping of spike-wave discharges was obtained in the two cases. RESULTS: Only mild attentional and executive disturbances were observed during absence status despite prolonged discharges. Spike-wave bursts were associated with selective impairment in the initiation of response and self-generated action, whereas short-term storage of external information during discharges was fully preserved. This is consistent with a predominant involvement of frontomesial cortex demonstrated by topographic mapping of spike-wave discharges in the two cases. By contrast, in two other patients with typical absences and a complete lack of retention for information given during the discharges, topographic mapping found a more lateral frontal involvement by spike-wave activity. CONCLUSIONS: Different types of absence seizures may impair distinct components of conscious behavior. A predominant involvement of frontomesial thalamocortical circuitry may underlie an "inconspicuous" disorder of consciousness as seen in phantom absences with selective loss of initiation and goal-oriented behavior, whereas involvement of more lateral frontal areas in typical absences may additionally disrupt working memory processes. | |
Keywords | Adult — Aged — Brain Mapping — Cerebral Cortex/physiology/physiopathology — Cognition/physiology — Electroencephalography/ statistics & numerical data — Epilepsy, Absence/diagnosis/ physiopathology — Female — Frontal Lobe/ physiopathology — Functional Laterality/physiology — Gyrus Cinguli/physiopathology — Humans — Memory, Short-Term/physiology — Middle Aged — Neural Pathways/physiology/physiopathology — Neuropsychological Tests/statistics & numerical data — Sensation/physiology — Thalamus/physiology/physiopathology — Unconsciousness/diagnosis/ physiopathology | |
Identifiers | PMID: 10840400 | |
Full text |
![]() ![]() Other version: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119003574/abstract |
|
Structures | ||
Research group | Neuropsychologie et neurologie comportementale (951) | |
Citation (ISO format) | VUILLEUMIER, Patrik et al. Distinct behavioral and EEG topographic correlates of loss of consciousness in absences. In: Epilepsia, 2000, vol. 41, n° 6, p. 687-693. https://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/unige:10490 |