Psychosomatic Medicine 19:399-408 (1957)
© 1957 American Psychosomatic Society

Musicogenic Epilepsy

Report of Three Cases

¹ Sections of Neurology and Psychiatry, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minn.

In reflex epilepsy, seizures may be initiated by various sensory stimuli. Infrequently music may be the effective stimulus and this form of reflex epilepsy has been termed "musicogenic epilepsy." A review of the literature disclosed approximately 30 instances of seizures induced by listening to music. A wide variety of music may serve to "trigger" the attacks, and in certain instances nonmusical sounds also may be potent stimuli. Three additional cases have been reported.

A division of musicogenic epilepsy into primary and secondary types is proposed. In the secondary type an underlying convulsive disorder exists and the major problem is understanding the "triggering" mechanism. Several hypotheses are offered to explain the effectiveness of simple auditory patterns. An additional possibility of "triggering" by more nonspecific affective stimuli is considered. Such "affectogenic" precipitation may play a major role in the primary type of musicogenic epilepsy in which seizures occur only in relation to music. Rather than operating alternatively, these triggering mechanisms probably act concurrently in varying proportions.