Automatic and apparently undirected non-purposeful behavior that is not consciously controlled. Seen in psychomotor epilepsy.
The performance of an act without awareness.
A state in which a person acts without consciously knowing that he or she is acting.
A condition in which a person performs or acts without awareness of what he or she is doing and without any memory of the acts afterward; also known as automatic behavior. Sleepwalking is an example. Other examples of automatism include lip smacking, swallowing, chewing, pacing, humming, or mumbling. These symptoms usually last only about a minute. As with other instances of automatism, a sleepwalking person may appear to function normally, but he or she shows no signs of personality. Automatism may represent a trance following severe trauma, and it can also be a sign of certain forms of epilepsy, migraine, and some mental diseases.
One of the symptoms of temporal lobe epilepsy, in which the patient performs well-organized movements. These movements may be simple and repetitive, such as hand clapping, or they may be so complex as to mimic a person’s normal conscious activities.
The performance of acts without conscious will, as, for example, after an attack of epilepsy or concussion of the brain. In such conditions the person may perform acts of which he or she is neither conscious at the time nor has any memory afterwards. It is especially liable to occur when persons suffering from epilepsy, mental sub-normality, or concussion consume alcoholic liquors. It may also occur following the taking of barbiturates or psychedelic drugs. There are, however, other cases in which there are no such precipitatory factors. Thus it may occur following hypnosis, mental stress or strain, or conditions such as FUGUE or somnambulism. The condition is of considerable importance from a legal point of view, because acts done in this state, and for which the person committing them is not responsible, may be of a criminal nature. According to English law, however, it entails complete loss of consciousness, and only . then is it a defence to an action for negligence. A lesser impairment of consciousness is no defence.
Automatic actions or behavior without conscious volition or knowledge.
During a seizure, there may be movements that exhibit partial intent but are ultimately involuntary in nature.
Automatism refers to a condition where one’s behavior is not under the control of the conscious mind. In this state, individuals engage in activities without being aware of doing so, and afterwards, they have little or no recollection of what transpired. Episodes of automatism typically commence suddenly and last only a few minutes at most.
Automatism is a relatively rare occurrence and can manifest as a symptom of various conditions, including temporal lobe epilepsy, dissociative disorders characterized by the loss of specific mental functions, drug or alcohol intoxication, or hypoglycemia resulting from low blood sugar levels.
Actions carried out unconsciously, often occurring as an automatic response following an epileptic seizure, without the individual’s awareness.