This paper deals with a patient with the Frontal Arousal Rhythm (FAR), a rare rhythmic pattern usually seen in young children awakening from sleep, with a history of seizures. In this patient, subtle clinical changes were observed on the video during the pattern, consisting of a sequence of brief eye lid flutter, chewing, increased inspiration and upper lip quivering. This exact sequence was seen on three successive occasions lasting for 6, 9, and 10 sec. The conclusion is the FAR is not just a sign of seizure disorder, but is actually an ictal pattern.
WhiteJCTharpBR. An arousal pattern in children with organic cerebral dysfunction. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol1974, 37: 265–268.
2.
HughesJRDaaboulY. The frontal arousal rhythm. Clin Electroencephalogr1999; 30(1): 16–20.
3.
NiedermeyerE. Maturation of the EEG: Development of waking and sleep patterns. In: NiedermeyerELopes da SilvaF. (eds). Electroencephalography. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins; 1993: 167–191.
4.
AicardiJ. Epilepsies with affective psychic manifestations and complex partial seizures. In: AicardiJ. (ed). Epilepsy in Children. New York: Raven Press; 1986: 140–175.
5.
SuetsugiMMizukiYUshijimaI. Appearance of frontal midline theta activity in patients with generalized anxiety disorder. Neuropsychobiol2000; 4(2): 108–112.
