Premium
Ictal Smile
Author(s) -
Molinuevo Jose L.,
Arroyo Santiago
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1998.tb01337.x
Subject(s) - ictal , electroencephalography , epilepsy , psychology , temporal lobe , complex partial seizures , partial seizures , neuroscience , medicine , audiology , anesthesia
Summary:Purpose : Smiling is sometimes manifested during partial seizures. Its value for localizing the epileptogenic focus is not known. We analyzed smiling as an ictal manifestation possibly useful for seizure localization. Methods: We reviewed patients referred to the video‐EEG monitoring unit who presented a smile as part of their critical symptoms. Ictal smile was defined as an accordant expression accompanied by other characteristic epileptic symptoms and ictal EEG activity. Results: Five of 86 patients experienced partial seizures with an ictal smile. We observed smiling during parietal (two patients) and temporal lobe (three patients) seizures. The right hemisphere appeared to be involved with greater frequency. Conclusions: Ictal smile is an uncommon manifestation of partial seizures involving temporal or parietal lobes, localized mainly on the right hemisphere.