A Case of Gelastic Epilepsy, probable Orbito-frontal Origin

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 6(2); 1988 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1988;6(2): 300-305.

안와.전두엽에 초점을 둔 Gelastic Epilepsy 1례

변영주, 하정상,박충서

영남대학교 신경과.

A Case of Gelastic Epilepsy, probable Orbito-frontal Origin

Yeung-Ju Byun,M.D., Jung-Sang Hah,M.D., Choong-Suh Park,M.D.

Department of Neurology, college of Medicine, Yeungnam University

Abstract

Laughter as an epileptic phenomenon is very uncommon. The introduction of the term gelastic epilepsy by Daly and Mulder (1957) may have resulted in less precision in diagnosis. Laughter does not necessarily include Mirth (gelos). Smiling may be volumtary or barely perceptible, whereas the laryngeal and respiratory components of laughter are more likely to be involuntary and are definite. To this time the loction of this epilepsy is said to be related with temporal lobe and hypothalamus. This case which we present with reviewing of the literature has paroxysmally a burst of loud, high-pitched laughter without any emotional expression. It suggests that at the production of this laughter some fasciorespiratory pathways might be involved, and that the start of this epileptic discharge is probably from a lesion of the orbito-frontal area.