title: Prefrontal seizures manifesting as motor stereotypies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The definition of stereotypies traditionally does not include "epileptic automatisms." However repetitive, sometimes rhythmic behaviors can occur during frontal lobe seizures in a reproducible pattern for a given patient. Thus, the concept of a frontostriatal "motor loop" could be relevant to repetitive ictal behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe 17 patients with frontal lobe epilepsy who presented with motor and/or verbal stereotypies and who were explored using depth electrodes (stereoelectroencephalography [SEEG]) in the context of epilepsy presurgical evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Motor patterns were typically reproducible between seizures for a given patient. Distal motor stereotypies were associated with anterior prefrontal localization, and proximal stereotypies were associated with posterior prefrontal localization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  "Stereotypy" is a useful term to describe ictal repetitive behaviors produced by prefrontal seizure discharge. The expression of distal and proximal stereotypies follows a rostrocaudal gradient within the frontal lobes. Exploration of the cortical compartment of frontostriatal networks in epileptic patients offers a unique opportunity to study the mechanisms of stereotypies in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, INSERM UMR 1106, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille Université, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France; Service de Neurophysiologie Clinique, Hôpital de la Timone, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Aileen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McGonigal
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chauvel
mesh_terms: D058256:Brain Waves / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D017034:Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019956:Stereotypic Movement Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: epileptic seizure; frontal lobe; semiology; stereoelectroencephalography; stereotypies