Gelastic seizures and the anteromesial frontal lobe: a case report and review of intracranial EEG recording and electrocortical stimulation case studies

Epilepsia. 2010 Oct;51(10):2195-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2010.02548.x.

Abstract

Symptomatogenic areas for ictal laughter have been described in the frontal and temporal lobes. Within the frontal lobe, gelastic seizures have been recorded from the cingulate gyrus. Electrocortical stimulation of the cingulate gyrus as well as the superior frontal gyrus induced laughter. We describe a patient whose gelastic seizures were associated with electrographic ictal activity in the mesial aspect of the right anterior frontal gyrus. The symptomatogenic area for ictal laughter in the frontal lobe may reside in the superior frontal gyrus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Brain Mapping
  • Electric Stimulation / methods
  • Electrodes, Implanted
  • Electroencephalography / statistics & numerical data*
  • Epilepsies, Partial / diagnosis
  • Epilepsies, Partial / physiopathology*
  • Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / diagnosis
  • Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / physiopathology
  • Frontal Lobe / physiopathology*
  • Gyrus Cinguli / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Laughter / physiology*
  • Male
  • Malformations of Cortical Development / diagnosis
  • Malformations of Cortical Development / physiopathology
  • Video Recording