Myoclonus: Relation to Epilepsy

Summary: Myoclonus can be divided into those types which are fragments of epilepsy and those which are non-epileptic. Epileptic myoclonus is viewed as the effect of an isolated spike in neurons of the motor system. Cortical reflex myoclonus is a fragment of partial epilepsy and represents hyperactivity of a focal area of cerebral cortex. Reticular reflex myoclonus is a fragment of generalized epilepsy with hyperactivity of medullary brainstem reticular formation. Primary generalized epileptic myoclonus is a fragment of primary generalized epilepsy and may represent a generalized hyperactive response of cortex to subcortical input.