Ecstatic epileptic seizures: a potential window on the neural basis for human self-awareness.
F. Picard, A. Craig
Epilepsy & Behavior November 1, 2009 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2009.09.013 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case series with theoretical framework Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 5 |
| Population | Patients with epileptic seizures accompanied by ecstatic auras |
| Key findings | Argues that ecstatic seizures, described in five patients as intense well-being and heightened self-awareness, are better explained by hyperactivation of the anterior insula than by the temporal lobe, and proposes that studying such patients could illuminate the neural basis of consciousness. |
Abstract
The anatomical correlate of epileptic seizures with ecstatic auras has not been established. We document precise descriptions of the ecstatic seizures experienced by five patients, all of whom reported intense feelings of well-being and a heightened self-awareness. We propose here that the descriptions by these patients, together with the neurophysiological and neuroradiological evidence, support a theoretical framework for understanding ecstatic states based on hyperactivation of the anterior insula, rather than the temporal lobe. Epileptologists who have access to patients who experience episodic feelings of ecstasy and heightened self-awareness have an opportunity to provide insights that might help clarify the neural basis of consciousness.
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Cites 3
- Neural correlates of a mystical experience in Carmelite nuns Neuroscience Letters July 27, 2006
- Increased frontal and paralimbic activation following ayahuasca, the pan-amazonian inebriant Psychopharmacology March 30, 2006
- How do you feel--now? The anterior insula and human awareness. Nature reviews. Neuroscience 2009