4 ms·

Quite interesting. So epileptic brains are re-using a mechanism from the sleep cycle to defend against daytime seizures [potentially].... But at a cost of cogni

Quite interesting. So epileptic brains are re-using a mechanism from the sleep cycle to defend against daytime seizures [potentially].... But at a cost of cognitive ability. I like how the brain can adaptively rewire stuff to defend itself. Just an anecdote, I find that my epilepsy causes me to drastically fall off a cognitive cliff at a certain point during e.g. a long meeting, and I guess this is a kind of gentle defence mechanism which I tend to call an 'aura' or precursor to a seizure. I like that the brain can give you notice of such a thing, enabling you to escape a bad situation.

jonmagic 3y ago
“aura” rings very true for me, I can feel it coming on 5-30 seconds before it hits hard. I especially struggle, not necessarily to the point of seizure but at least increased brain activity, with social situations with too many inputs when I can’t decide which input to focus on.
- zackkatz 3y ago
  I had nocturnal childhood epilepsy and, thankfully, I grew out of it. I would have an “aura” before going to bed that I would be having a seizure that night. Thankfully, I never had a daytime seizure.
- falling_myshkin 3y ago
  i have the same troubles in social situations with too many inputs. i am quite frankly asocial because of it, though i don't necessarily want to be. do you mind if i ask what your reaction feels like? my reaction feels a lot like dissociation, but it also could be absence seizure. it is hard to introspect in those moments.
falling_myshkin 3y ago
i recently had my first generalized seizure and once i knew and talked with doctors who confirmed it as primarily TLE i realized i had been having focal seizures for years. i think i may have a similar feeling in long meetings/conversations too. it's like i am forced to stop paying attention for several seconds. i can generally even notice that i am not paying attention, but I am unable to focus even if i try. i think i've noticed it tends to be worse if there are lots of people talking. it feels a lot like dissociation. perhaps it is an 'aura', some sort of absence seizure...

jonmagic 3y ago

“aura” rings very true for me, I can feel it coming on 5-30 seconds before it hits hard. I especially struggle, not necessarily to the point of seizure but at least increased brain activity, with social situations with too many inputs when I can’t decide which input to focus on.

zackkatz 3y ago
I had nocturnal childhood epilepsy and, thankfully, I grew out of it. I would have an “aura” before going to bed that I would be having a seizure that night. Thankfully, I never had a daytime seizure.
falling_myshkin 3y ago
i have the same troubles in social situations with too many inputs. i am quite frankly asocial because of it, though i don't necessarily want to be. do you mind if i ask what your reaction feels like? my reaction feels a lot like dissociation, but it also could be absence seizure. it is hard to introspect in those moments.

falling_myshkin 3y ago

i recently had my first generalized seizure and once i knew and talked with doctors who confirmed it as primarily TLE i realized i had been having focal seizures for years. i think i may have a similar feeling in long meetings/conversations too. it's like i am forced to stop paying attention for several seconds. i can generally even notice that i am not paying attention, but I am unable to focus even if i try. i think i've noticed it tends to be worse if there are lots of people talking. it feels a lot like dissociation. perhaps it is an 'aura', some sort of absence seizure...