S.E.E. Animations

S.E.E. Library

Information about epilepsy

Robert J. Mittan, Ph.D.

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		the S.E.E. program

	Animations Explaining Epilepsy

What is a Seizure? A lot of people have heard that a seizure is like a short circuit in the brain. Others have heard it is an electrical storm. Unfortunately both of these explanations scare patients and families. Short circuits and lightning bolts give the impression every seizure fries brain cells. Both of those explanations are entirely wrong. So what is going on in the brain during seizures? Seizures are like the “wave” at a football stadium. I am sure you have seen fans do the “wave” to support their team. Just like fans in the stadium, brain cells are normally busy doing their own individual activity. Like a football crowd, some may be eating hot dogs, some may be talking with their friends, and some may be questioning the eyesight of the umpire or the strategy of the coach. Suddenly something comes along, like a cheerleader, and gets them all to stop doing their individual activities. Instead they are encouraged to stand up as a group and then sit down. The next group of brain cells does the same thing. The “wave” spreads around the “stadium” (or brain) from there. Depending on where in the brain the “wave” begins and how far and fast it spreads, you get any one of over 2,000 different kinds of seizures. To S.E.E. a FLASH animation of what brain cells do during a seizure, click HERE. Please wait while the file downloads - it is about 4 MEG in size.