A Note on Gelastic Epilepsy

Vol. 52, No. 3, 2004

Article (Fulltext) Article (PDF 70 KB)

Original Paper

A Note on Gelastic Epilepsy
J.M.S. Pearce

Emeritus Consultant Neurologist, Department of Neurology, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK

Address of Corresponding Author

Eur Neurol 2004;52:172-174 (DOI: 10.1159/000081858)

Key Words

Laughter epilepsy
Gelastic seizure
Hypothalamic hamartomata
Temporal lobe
Emotion

Abstract

Laughter epilepsy or gelastic seizures have been described in various epilepsies arising from the temporal or frontal lobes, but most commonly from hypothalamic hamartomata. Gelastic seizures also arise from temporal and frontal lobe tumours and atrophic lesions. The essential clinical features are: stereotyped recurrence; absence of external precipitants; concomitance of other manifestations generally accepted as epileptic; presence of interictal or interictal EEG epileptiform discharges, and absence of conditions in which pathological laughter might occur. The history and clinical significance are discussed.

Author Contacts

J.M.S. Pearce
304 Beverley Road
Anlaby, East Yorks HU10 7BG (UK)
E-Mail jmspearce@freenet.co.uk

Article Information

Received: August 30, 2004
Accepted: September 1, 2004
Published online: November 2, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 3
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 24

Cited in Web of Science®

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