Chapter 101 - Focal reflex seizures – with emphasis on seizures triggered by eating

Summary

Reflex seizures that begin as clinical and electroencephalo-graphic focal seizures can be triggered by many different events. In human reflex seizures, acquired disorders such as traumatic or ischemic lesions and congenital or early lesions such as gross or subtle disorders of cortical development can be found. Periodic spasms have been triggered by eating in a patient with bilateral opercular dysplasia and motor deficits and in another report in two children with unspecified pathology. Seizures associated with eating are almost always related to symptomatic or cryptogenic focal epilepsy. Intermittent photic stimulation can also induce clear-cut partial seizures originating in one occipital lobe. Startle epilepsy involves seizures induced by sudden and unexpected stimuli. Seizures induced by proprioceptive stimulation are seen with movement of an arm or leg, fingers, or toes. Musicogenic seizures are usually associated with non-dominant temporal epileptiform activity.