SLEEP AND THE TEMPORAL-LOBE

The main interest in the association between sleep and temporal lobe d ysfunction is based on the activation of ictal and interictal epilepti c phenomena. The clinical semiology of NREM and REM parasomnias may re semble complex partial seizures. The differentiation between epilepsy and dissociated states of wakefulness and sleep is of high diagnostic and therapeutic importance. Systems within temporal lobe structures ar e also responsible for disturbed sleep or dyssomnia. The limbic brain is connected with different nodal points in the network underlying sle ep organisation and participates in both sleepinducing and arousal mec hanisms. Experimental amygdala kindling, an animal epilepsy model invo lving temporal structures, induces disturbed sleep patterns favouring waking and light sleep. In epilepsy unstable disrupted and superficial sleep patterns prevail without overt seizures. Sleepfragmentation and deprivation may impair daytime functioning and cognitive performance by lowering the seizure-treshold. The recognition of dyssomnia and of excessive sleepfragmentation and sleepiness has obvious implications f or behavioural and drug treatment.