What Are Seizures?
6. What Are Tonic and Atonic Seizures?
Tonic seizures, in contrast to the tonic-clonic type that has become the iconic image of a “seizure” in the media, are relatively rare. They are generalized seizures, meaning that the entire brain is affected by abnormal neuronal activity, and patients who experience these develop sudden muscle stiffness and a small change in awareness (or none). They are often tied to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and other epileptic syndromes.
Atonic seizures, or “drop attacks,” are more common in adults than in children. These patients do not convulse; as the name suggests, they simply drop to the floor because their muscles suddenly lose their normal tension (tone). Importantly, these seizures can affect one region of the brain or both cerebral hemispheres. Finally, the seizure itself may not be as dangerous as the possibility that patients hit their head when they fall.
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