Myoclonus: Relation to Epilepsy

Myoclonus can be divided into those types which are fragments of epilepsy and those which are nonepileptic. 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.