Cognition-induced epilepsy

Abstract

Cognition-induced epilepsy comprises a group of loosely tied syndromes characterized by seizures regularly precipitated by cognitive tasks. Linguistic operations (e.g., reading, writing) and decision making associated with visuospatial manipulation are the most frequent and best-characterized triggers. The syndromes reviewed have a high degree of overlap and clinical/EEG variability, suggesting that any of the neural networks subserving these complex tasks may promote seizures on either a topographic basis or a functional/connective basis. Treatment options include typical pharmacological and surgical interventions as well as stimulus alteration, threshold alteration, and avoidance conditioning. We postulate that more commonly encountered epilepsy syndromes also have complex triggers.