Can protrusion of the tongue stop seizures in Rolandic epilepsy?

Epileptic Disord. 1999 Dec;1(4):217-20.

Abstract

We report the case of a child with benign partial epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes (BECT) in whom protrusion of the tongue stopped the interictal abnormalities, and describe the polygraphic EEG recording of a seizure which terminated upon voluntary protrusion of the tongue. We mention the close link between the post-central (somatosensory) cortex and pre-central (motor) cortex, and how the primary sensory area has direct access to the motor cortex. We also examine how a tactile stimulus may provoke the inhibition of an epileptic discharge.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Electroencephalography*
  • Epilepsy, Rolandic / diagnosis
  • Epilepsy, Rolandic / genetics
  • Epilepsy, Rolandic / physiopathology
  • Epilepsy, Rolandic / therapy*
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motor Cortex / physiopathology
  • Neural Inhibition / physiology
  • Neural Pathways / physiopathology
  • Somatosensory Cortex / physiopathology
  • Tongue / innervation
  • Tongue Habits*