Abstract
In 12 rhesus monkeys the injection of alumina cream into the temporal cortex, amygdala or hippocampus induced seizures after a latent periods of six weeks to three months. Clinically the attacks are characterized by an arrest of movement, staring, unresponsiveness to most stimuli, wandering conjugate eye movements, automatisms, twitching of the contralateral ear and less commonly vocalization, chewing, hiccoughing, vomiting, adversive head movements and twitching of the face. The spiking from the amygdala and hippocampus, which usually fire together, propagates to the temporal cortex and multiple subcortical structures including the hypothalamus, anterior perforated space, anteromedial thalamus, cingulate gyrus, putamen, globus pallidus, subthalamus and mesencephalic reticular formation : from the temporal cortex to the amygdala and hippocampus, and secondarily to the diencephalic structures. There is a fairly consistent sequence of preferential propagation. Although spiking occurs in the temporal cortex, amygdala and hippocampus at different times, no specific structural correlation with clinical manifestations could be established. The interictal spikes tended to remain within the temporal lobe, and were influenced by sleep. Generalization of the seizures usually occurs from progressive involvement of more and more subcortical and cortical structures.
