title: Epileptiform K complexes.
abstract: The term "dyshormia" implies paroxysmal responses to arousing stimuli, either electrographically [spiky K complexes in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep] or with clinical seizures (Niedermeyer 1972). It has been shown, however, that focal temporal spikes may also occur in conjunction with K complexes. Accordingly, arousal-induced spiking may occur not only in primary generalized epilepsy (PGE) but also in focal forms of epilepsy. In PGE, the dyshormia phenomenon is obligatory and a basic element. K complexes with focal spikes in temporal lobe epilepsy are rarely observed and facultative, providing evidence of the powerful "drag" of the K complexes from the midline to the area of the focal spike.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Niedermeyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000592:standards*; D004831:Epilepsies, Myoclonic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic / Q000473:pathology; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D017286:Polysomnography; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology; D012894:Sleep Stages; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology