title: Seizures and epilepsy: an overview for neuroscientists.
abstract: Epilepsy is one of the most common and disabling neurologic conditions, yet we have an incomplete understanding of the detailed pathophysiology and, thus, treatment rationale for much of epilepsy. This article reviews the clinical aspects of seizures and epilepsy with the goal of providing neuroscientists an introduction to aspects that might be amenable to scientific investigation. Seizures and epilepsy are defined, diagnostic methods are reviewed, various clinical syndromes are discussed, and aspects of differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis are considered to enable neuroscientists to formulate basic and translational research questions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurology, Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287.
authors.forename: Carl E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Stafstrom
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Sainte-Justine Hospital, Universite Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1C5, Canada.
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carmant
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D020274:Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis; D062485:Breath Holding; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D018887:Landau-Kleffner Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D065768:Lennox Gastaut Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods; D020447:Parasomnias / Q000175:diagnosis; D012640:Seizures / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis