2. The origin of primary bilaterally synchrony of H. Jasper, P. Gloor seen in generalized epilepsy and the secondary bilaterally synchrony of W. Blume seen in secondary generalized epilepsy

Abstract

In their landmark research published in the 1950s W. Penfield and H. Jasper proposed the “centrencephalic” hypothesis proposing that “a primarily subcortical, upper brainstem and/or thalamic system with bilaterally diffuse cortical projections within which the epileptic discharge is generalized and spread 1 Gloor P. Generalized cortico-reticular epilepsies. Epilepsia 1968;9:249–62. 1 ” was the origin of primary generalized seizures with primary generalized bilaterally synchronous (PBS) discharges seen on the EEG. P. Gloor further developed on this theory and the “cortical” hypothesis of Gibbs and Gibbs and based on his clinical research of intracarotid injections of sodium amytal and metrazol in epileptic patients and the feline penicillin model proposed a “cortico-reticular” hypothesis for the above. Thus emphasizing the important role the cortex plays in PBS. W. Blume’s paper published in the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences (October 2, 2001), he described the concept of secondary bilateral synchrony, which he refers to a focal spike or sharp waves leading directly to “bilaterally synchronous epileptiform paroxysms.” Thus stating that the above EEG phenomenon can also been seen in be seen in patients suffering from secondary generalized seizures and may point towards a specific epileptogenic zone in the brain. This paper will aim to review the opinions of three master pioneer electro-encephalographers. The origins of primary bilateral synchrony proposed by H. Jasper and P. Gloor and the secondary bilateral synchrony (SBS) of W. Blume.