title: [The startle response and epilepsy].
abstract: Startle responses (SR) are described as epileptic and non-epileptic attacks and their mechanisms are poorly understood. Long-loop reflexes and a satisfactory response to L-tryptophan treatment have only seldom been published in this condition. This prompted us to report a case with epilepsy and startle-induced tonic spasms, the latter refractory to all conventional medication except for L-tryptophan. Special emphasis is placed on the electrophysiological findings. Similar observations of non-habituation of SR in post-anoxic brain damage and in the case of startle epilepsy possibly suggest a deficit of cortical inhibition, probably in the supplementary motor area, rather than brain stem dysfunction in both instances.
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Abteilung, Wilhelminenspital der Stadt Wien.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grisold
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jelinek
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wimmer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
vernacular_title: Startle Response und Epilepsie.