An epileptic seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
This disrupts normal brain function and can cause:
- Changes in movement (e.g. jerking or stiffness)
- Altered awareness or loss of consciousness
- Unusual sensations, thoughts, or behaviours
Briefly:
A seizure = the brain’s signals misfiring temporarily
Learn more
- Seizures (Health Direct)
What are non-epileptic seizures?
Non-epileptic seizures (NES) are: Seizure-like episodes without abnormal electrical activity in the brain
They are real, involuntary, and can look like epileptic seizures
How they fit into FND
NES (often called functional seizures) are part of:
Functional Neurological Disorder
FND = a problem with how the brain functions, not structure
- No tumour, stroke, or epilepsy causing the event
- But the brain’s signalling and regulation are disrupted
Think: “the system is overloaded or misfiring in function”
⚠️ Why non epileptic seizures can happen (simple model)
LOAD ↑ + PROCESSING ↓ = EPISODE
- Stress (emotional, physical, sensory) builds
- The system becomes overwhelmed
- The brain “shuts down” or discharges in a seizure-like way
