musicgenic seizures

Re: musicgenic seizures

Submitted by wldhrt13 on Sun, 2007-06-03 - 21:04

Hi powrd, Musicogenic seizures are a reflex epilepsy triggered by certain types of music or even specific frequencies of pitch for which the person's brain has a low threshold or tolerance. These sounds trigger focal epileptiform EEG discharges in cerebral areas specific to the triggering stimulus. This usually results in a complex partial seizure, but may also induce others, such as tonic-clonic seizures. Musicogenic seizures usually involve a degree of cognitive or emotional appreciation of the stimulus. In some cases, merely thinking of the atmosphere and the emotions associated with a certain stimulus is enough to induce a seizure. They may also occur during sleep. Carbamazepine and phenytoin may be prescribed to control this condition. Behavioral conditioning offers other possibilities and have yielded positive results. [In behavioral treatment, the patient is exposed repeatedly to a similar piece of music or even to the same piece altered sufficiently to not provoke a seizure. Eventually, the original stimulus may be heard with no ill effect.] Behavioural treatment may be time-consuming and may need to be reinforced later to maintain desensitization. In spite of this, behavioural conditioning may prove effective in the treatment of people who do not want to avoid the triggering stimulus or take medication. ************************* Here's also some information regarding musicogenic seizures from Epi Help here on this website: There are many types of seizures that are triggered by specific activities or stimuli- they are called refelx epilepsies. Music can be one of the triggers. Musicogenic seizures are when the events are consistently triggered by music, and not just once in a while. Here is a link to reflex epilepsies under general info on types of epilepsy www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/epilepsy_reflex.html You can also search for research articles on different subjects. There is an abstract of recently published article that looked at where in the brain musicogenic seizures may arise - in temporal lobes. There were more under this topic if you wish to search more. www.epilepsy.com/pubmed/pubmed.php?article=16922888 Hope this helps! ******************************* Here's a really good website to look up musicogenic seizures. It is on the International League Against Epilepsy's website: http://www.ilae-epilepsy.org/Visitors/Centre/ctf/reflex_seizures.cfm You'll have to scroll down a ways until you see "Seizures triggered by music".Good luck, hope this helps, Barbie By txrhb1 at Fri, 10/13/2006 - 2:32am