Laughter in Epilepsy

Abstract

Eleven patients with laughter an an epileptiform manifestation were described. The laughter varied from violent prolonged laughter lasting two minutes or so to giggling and even grinning. The epileptic origin of the laughter was indicated by the lack of any external precipitant, by the nature of the laughter, by concomitant manifestations of epilepsy, and by response to anticonvulsant medication. The clinical and the eeg picture of the patients showed much variation, but in general indicated the probability of an organic lesion of the brain as the causative factor. The possible role of the hypo-thalamus in the production of this seizure manifestation was discussed.