Lapse of consciousness and automatisms in temporal lobe epilepsy

Abstract

Videotape analysis of 76 attacks in 14 epileptics showed two electro-clinical types of psychomotor attacks. The first and most common type had three clinical phases, consisting of an initial motionless stare, stereotyped movements, and reactive automatisms during impaired consciousness. The second and less common type started with stereotyped and reactive automatisms. In the first type, focal temporal or lateralizing features were common. In the second type, there were only diffuse changes in the electroencephalogram. The value of recording attacks with nasopharyngeal electrodes was emphasized by a high yield for focal-lateralizing electroencephalographic features.