The dreamy state: hallucinations of autobiographic memory evoked by temporal lobe stimulations and seizures

Using results from cortical stimulations, as well as the symptoms of spontaneous epileptic seizures recorded by stereoelectroencephalography we re-studied the phenomenon of the dreamy state, as described by Jackson (Jackson JH. Selected writings of John Hughlins Jackson. Vol 1. On epilepsy and epile...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brain (London, England : 1878) England : 1878), 2007-01, Vol.130 (1), p.88-99
Main Authors: Vignal, Jean-Pierre, Maillard, Louis, McGonigal, Aileen, Chauvel, Patrick
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
amygdala
Amygdala - physiopathology
autobiographic memory
Biological and medical sciences
Consciousness - physiology
cortical stimulation
dreamy state
Electric Stimulation - methods
Electrodiagnosis. Electric activity recording
Electroencephalography - methods
Emotions - physiology
Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - physiopathology
Hallucinations - physiopathology
Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy
hippocampus
Hippocampus - physiopathology
Humans
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Medical sciences
Memory - physiology
Middle Aged
Neocortex - physiopathology
Nervous system
Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes)
Neurology
Parahippocampal Gyrus - physiopathology
Seizures - physiopathology
Temporal Lobe - physiopathology
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Using results from cortical stimulations, as well as the symptoms of spontaneous epileptic seizures recorded by stereoelectroencephalography we re-studied the phenomenon of the dreamy state, as described by Jackson (Jackson JH. Selected writings of John Hughlins Jackson. Vol 1. On epilepsy and epileptiform convulsions. Taylor J, editor. London: Hodder and Stoughton; 1931). A total of 15 sensations of déjà vécu, 35 visual hallucinations consisting of the image of a scene and 5 ‘feelings of strangeness’ occurred. These were recorded during 40 stimulations in 16 subjects, and 15 seizures in 5 subjects. Forty-five per cent of dreamy states were evoked by stimulation of the amygdala, 37.5% by the hippocampus and 17.5% by the para-hippocampal gyrus. During both spontaneous and provoked dreamy state, the electrical discharge was localized within mesial temporal lobe structures, without involvement of the temporal neocortex. Early spread of the discharge to the temporal neocortex appeared to prevent the occurrence of the dreamy state. Semiological analysis showed a clinical continuity between déjà vécu and visual hallucinations, the latter often consisting of a personal memory that was ‘relived’ by the subject; such memories could be recent, distant or from childhood. With one exception, the particular memory evoked differed from one seizure to another, but were always drawn from the same period of the subject's life. Given the role of the amygdala and hippocampus in autobiographic memory, their pathological activation during seizures may trigger memory recall. This study of the dreamy state is in keeping with other evidence demonstrating the constant and central role of the amygdala and hippocampus (right as much as left) in the recall of recent and distant memories. It demonstrates the existence of large neural networks that produce recall of memories via activation of the hippocampus, amygdala and rhinal cortex.
ISSN:0006-8950
1460-2156
DOI:10.1093/brain/awl329