What type of seizure is characterized by loss of consciousness?

A generalized tonic-clonic seizure is characterized by a loss of consciousness. During this type of seizure, the individual experiences a tonic phase, where muscle stiffness occurs, followed by a clonic phase, which includes rhythmic muscle jerking. This seizure type affects both hemispheres of the brain, leading to an overall loss of awareness and responsiveness.

Loss of consciousness signifies that the person is not aware of their surroundings or unable to interact during the episode, which is a notable aspect of generalized seizures. This contrasts with other types like simple partial seizures, where consciousness remains intact, and complex partial seizures, where awareness may be impaired but not fully lost. Absence seizures also involve a brief loss of consciousness, but they present differently, typically as a short, non-convulsive episode with a quick recovery. Therefore, while absence seizures also involve loss of consciousness, the generalized tonic-clonic seizure is a more comprehensive seizure type associated with significant convulsive activity.