The March of Focal Motor Epilepsy

　With multiple subcortical bipolar elect—rodes sampling the activity of most of the　basal ganglia and brainstem, the propaga—tion of a focal epileptic seizure originating　in the face motor area has been followed．　Both cortical and subcortical spread of dis—charge has been observed and statistically　evaluated．　The contralateral homologous　cortex and ipsilateral putamen are most　frequently activated, then the prefrontal　cortex, ipsilateral thalamus and globus pal—lidus and contralateral cerebellum．

　The generalization of a focal seizure　seems related to the progressive involvement　of cortical and subcortical structures until　a critical mass is involved, when a gene—ralized attack ensues．　The reticular for—mation does not seem essential to this ge—neralization．