spreading depolarization: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

No. While both involve abnormal brain activity, a seizure is characterized by excessive, synchronous neuronal firing. Spreading depolarization is a wave of electrical silence and depolarization where neurons are unable to fire.

Not directly. However, in migraine with aura, the visual or sensory disturbances (aura) are believed to be the perceptual correlate of a spreading depolarization wave moving across the brain's cortex.

In healthy, well-perfused brain tissue, it may be reversible and benign (as hypothesized in migraine aura). However, in metabolically compromised tissue (e.g., after stroke or trauma), it is a major contributor to secondary brain damage and expanding injury.

They are often used synonymously. Historically, 'cortical spreading depression' was the original term. 'Spreading depolarization' is now often preferred as a more physiologically precise descriptor, especially for events in subcortical structures or non-depressed (i.e., electrically active but depolarized) states.

A wave of electrical silence in brain tissue, where neurons lose their normal negative charge, that expands outwards from an origin point.

Spreading depolarization is usually highly technical/scientific (neurology, neuroscience, medicine) in register.

Spreading depolarization: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspred.ɪŋ ˌdiː.pəʊ.lə.raɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspred.ɪŋ ˌdiː.poʊ.lə.rəˈzeɪ.ʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.