Hyperventilation (HV)
HV is most effective in evoking this seizure type
What is absence seizure (3 Hz spike-and-wave)?
Photic stimulation is most effective at these flash rates for eliciting abnormalities.
What is 14–16 Hz (sometimes 15–25 Hz for photoparoxysmal response)?
This sleep stage is most effective at eliciting epileptiform activity.
What is stage II sleep?
Name one orientation question you might ask an awake adult.
What is “What is your name? Where are you? What day is it?”
Sleep deprivation is considered an example of this type of activation.
What is physiological activation?
HV lowers this blood component, leading to cerebral artery constriction.
What is CO₂ (carbon dioxide)?
A normal EEG response to photic stimulation seen at the same frequency as the flashes.
What is a photic driving response?
In children, this benign EEG pattern occurs at sleep onset and is called __________.
What is hypnagogic hypersynchrony?
Neonates respond similarly to this type of adult patient.
What is a stuporous adult?
AED withdrawal may be used in this type of monitored setting
What is inpatient monitoring for epilepsy surgery evaluation?
Name two common contraindications for HV.
What are sickle cell anemia, recent stroke, cardiac illness, subarachnoid hemorrhage, severe hypertension, or distressed breathing?
This abnormal EEG response to photic can provoke a generalized tonic-clonic seizure.
What is a photoparoxysmal (photoconvulsive) response?
Sleep deprivation makes abnormalities more likely by stressing this part of the brain.
What is the epileptogenic brain?
For patients in stupor/unconsciousness, this type of stimulation may be required.
What is clapping, loud noises, or noxious (painful) stimulation?
This is the risk when epilepsy patients are taken off AEDs under monitoring.
What is tonic-clonic seizures?
During HV, the EEG may show this normal slowing pattern, especially in children.
What is bilateral frontal slow waves (“build-up”)?
This benign response involves EMG spikes in the frontal regions with head jerks, seen in up to 20% of normals.
What is photomyoclonic (photomyogenic) response?
This sleep state suppresses epileptiform activity and may mask abnormalities.
What is REM sleep?
Orientation and alerting tests confirm a patient’s level of this
What is consciousness?
Seizures triggered by specific activities like reading or listening to music are examples of this.
What is reflex epilepsy?
If a patient cannot stop HV and begins shivering uncontrollably, this intervention should be used.
What is breathing into a paper bag (to restore CO₂ levels)?
This type of asymmetry during photic driving may suggest focal pathology, requiring electrode placement verification.
What is asymmetrical photic driving?
If sedation is required to obtain sleep, this must be ordered by a physician and includes monitoring vitals.
What is conscious sedation?
When evaluating level of consciousness in intubated patients, why should assumptions not be made?
What is consciousness?
Unlike older practices, giving patients medications to induce seizures is __________.
What is no longer done?