Musicogenic Epilepsy: Review of the Literature and Case Report with Ictal Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography

Purpose: We report a case of musicogenic epilepsy with ictal single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) study and discuss the findings of this patient in the context of 76 cases with musicogenic epilepsy described in the literature and seven other cases followed in Zurich. Methods: We analyz...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epilepsia (Copenhagen) 1997-02, Vol.38 (2), p.200-207
Main Authors: Wieser, Heinz Gregor, Hungerböhler, Hansjörg, Siegel, Adrian M., Buck, Alfred
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acoustic Stimulation
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Brain - diagnostic imaging
Brain - physiopathology
Electroencephalography
Epilepsy - diagnostic imaging
Epilepsy - etiology
Epilepsy - physiopathology
Female
Functional Laterality - physiology
Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy
Humans
Ictal single photon emission computed tomography
Medical sciences
Music
Musicogenic epilepsy
Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes)
Neurology
Reflex epilepsy
Temporal Lobe - diagnostic imaging
Temporal Lobe - physiopathology
Temporal lobe epilepsy
Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
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Summary:Purpose: We report a case of musicogenic epilepsy with ictal single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) study and discuss the findings of this patient in the context of 76 cases with musicogenic epilepsy described in the literature and seven other cases followed in Zurich. Methods: We analyzed the 83 patients according to the precipitating musical factors, type of epilepsy, presumed localization of seizure onset, and demographic data. Results: Fourteen of 83 patients (17%) had seizures triggered exclusively by music. At time of examination, music was the only known precipitating stimulus in 65 of 83 patients (78%). Various characteristics of the musical stimulus were significant, e.g., musical category, familiarity, and instruments. Conclusions: Musicogenic epilepsy is a particular form of epilepsy with a strong correlation to the temporal lobe and a right‐sided preponderance. A high musical standard might predispose for musicogenic epilepsy. Moreover, the majority of cases do not fall into the category of a strictly defined “reflex epilepsy”, but appear to depend on the indermediary of a certain emotional reaction mediated through limbic mesial temporal lobe structures.
ISSN:0013-9580
1528-1167
DOI:10.1111/j.1528-1157.1997.tb01098.x