Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39526961›Full record

ArticleEpilepsia open2025

Peri-ictal yawning: A potential lateralizing sign in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Xiaoping Du, Yi Yao, Jiani Chen, Xiaoping Yang, Lei Zhang, Yingying Tang, Xiaoting Hao, Dong Zhou, Shizhong Lian, Fengpeng Wang and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Epilepsia open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Xiaoping DuDepartment of Neurology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.ORCID 0000-0002-2644-9872
Yi YaoEpilepsy Center, Xiamen Humanity Hospital Fujian Medical University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Jiani ChenDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Xiaoping YangDepartment of Neurology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Lei ZhangDepartment of Radiology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Yingying TangDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Xiaoting HaoDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.ORCID 0000-0002-0372-1634
Dong ZhouDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.ORCID 0000-0001-7101-4125
Shizhong LianDepartment of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Fengpeng WangEpilepsy Center, Xiamen Humanity Hospital Fujian Medical University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Xiaobin ZhangEpilepsy Center, Xiamen Humanity Hospital Fujian Medical University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Meizhen SunDepartment of Neurology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Junhong GuoDepartment of Neurology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.

Funding

Shizhong Lian: The Health Commission of Shanxi Province No.231601Yingying Tang: Sichuan University No. 2023HXFH033Yingying Tang: Sichuan University No. 2023SCUH0050
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe primary objective of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the incidence and lateralization value of peri-ictal yawning (PY) in people with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). PY has only occasionally been reported as a manifestation of focal epilepsy. We aimed to determine whether PY could serve as an indicator to help lateralize seizure onset during epileptic seizures.

methodsAmong 236 consecutive TLE patients admitted for video-EEG monitoring, we analyzed the clinical characteristics, along with scalp video-EEG, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), Wada test, and stereo EEG (SEEG) in patients with PY.

resultsAmong the 236 patients, 26 (11.0%) exhibited PY, and 36 of 1018 recorded seizures (3.5%) were associated with PY. Of the 26 patients with PY, 19 (73.1%) had non-dominant TLE, while 7 (26.9%) had dominant TLE. The majority of these patients presented with staring, arrest, and automatisms during their seizures with accompanying vegetative signs. PY occurred either during the ictal or postictal phase in all patients. Exception for 10 seizures (10/36, 27.8%) at the early stage (less than 25% total duration), PY was primarily linked to the late ictal and postictal phases. Surgical intervention was performed in 12 patients, 9 of whom (75%) achieved seizure freedom (Engel class I), with 7 of these 9 (77.8%) having non-dominant TLE. SIGNIFICANCE: Yawning is a physiological phenomenon typically not associated with epilepsy. The present series suggests that PY is relatively uncommon in TLE, but may represent a rare vegetative sign, particularly in cases with non-dominant TLE. Further investigation with a larger cohort of surgically confirmed cases and using intracranial EEG is essential to deepen our understanding of this phenomenon. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Yawning is a typical physiological response that is generally not linked to epilepsy. However, it can occasionally indicate seizure activity, particularly in TLE. PY happens more often observed in non-dominant TLE and usually occurs in the later stages of a seizure or just after it. It may hold potential as a lateralizing marker in TLE.

Indexed as

Epilepsy, Temporal LobeFunctional LateralityYawningAdolescentAdultElectroencephalographyFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedPositron-Emission TomographyRetrospective StudiesSeizuresYoung Adultincidence and lateralizing valueperi‐ictal yawningtemporal lobe epilepsyvideo‐EEG

Identifiers

PMID39526961
PMCPMC11803286

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.