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Spastic Seizure
Spastic-Seizure-I.mp3
Spastic-Seizure-I.mp4
Spastic-Seizure-Unplugged-Underground-XVIII.mp3
Spastic-Seizure-Unplugged-Underground-XVIII.mp4
Spastic-Seizure-intro.mp3
[Intro]
Abnormal electrical activity
(In the brain)
Feel the weight, the gravity
(Of the strain)
[Verse 1]
Are your ions (on)
Does the flow know where to go
Action potential
Ions are on (on and on)
[Bridge]
(Zap!)
Under attack
(A grand mal sprawl)
[Chorus]
Abnormal electrical activity
(In the brain)
Feel the weight, the gravity
(Of the strain)
[Verse 2]
Capacitance
(And resistance)
The law of Ohm
(Om Ohm, Om Ohm)
[Bridge]
(Zap!)
Under attack
(A grand mal brawl)
[Chorus]
Abnormal electrical activity
(In the brain)
Feel the weight, the gravity
(Of the strain)
[Outro]
(Zap!)
Stand back (back, back, back)
——————————
[Verse 3]
The law of Ohm
(Om Ohm, Om Ohm)
Ions on
(And on and on)
[Bridge]
(Zap!)
Under attack
[Instrumental, Guitar Solo]
(A grand mal thrawl)
[Chorus]
Abnormal electrical activity
(In the brain)
Feel the weight, the gravity
(Of the strain)
[Outro]
(Zap!)
Stand back (back, back, back)
A SCIENCE NOTE
A spastic seizure (or tonic-clonic seizure, previously called a grand mal) involves abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which triggers involuntary muscle contractions. The physics and biology overlap here in some fascinating ways. Let’s break it down:
1. Electricity and the Brain: Basic Neurophysics
Your brain and nervous system are essentially electrochemical circuits.
How neurons communicate:
Neurons use electrical signals (called action potentials) to transmit messages.
These signals are caused by ions (charged particles) like Na⁺ and K⁺ moving across the cell membrane.
When the charge difference (voltage) across the membrane reaches a threshold, the neuron “fires.”
Key Physics:
Voltage: Difference in electric potential across the membrane.
Current: Flow of ions down the neuron’s axon.
Capacitance and resistance: Membranes act like tiny capacitors (charge storage) with built-in resistance.
Ohm’s Law applies: V = IR, where current (I) is driven by voltage (V) across resistance (R).
2. What Happens During a Spastic Seizure
A seizure occurs when:
Large groups of neurons fire uncontrollably and simultaneously.
The normal balance between excitatory (go!) and inhibitory (slow down!) signals is disrupted.
This causes a “storm” of electrical activity in the brain.
During a spastic or tonic-clonic seizure:
Tonic phase: Muscles suddenly stiffen (tonic contraction) due to sustained neural firing.
Clonic phase: Muscles rapidly contract and relax (jerking), driven by rhythmic bursts of electrical activity.
The motor cortex (controls movement) is often the source or relay point.
3. Physics of the Spasms: Electromuscular Coupling
Muscle contractions are triggered by:
Nerve impulses reaching muscle fibers.
Release of calcium ions (Ca²⁺) inside the muscle cells.
Calcium allows actin and myosin (muscle proteins) to slide past each other, contracting the muscle.
In a seizure:
The brain sends excessive, repeated electrical signals to muscles.
Muscles respond with violent, involuntary contractions.
The rhythm of firing during the clonic phase often appears chaotic but is sometimes semi-synchronized.
4. Recovery and Aftermath: The Refractory Period
After the seizure:
Neurons enter a refractory state — they can’t fire again until ionic balance is restored.
This involves pumps (like the sodium-potassium pump) actively restoring charge differences.
That’s why a person often appears confused, exhausted, or unconscious post-seizure — the brain is “rebooting.”
Bonus: What Triggers the Breakdown?
Genetics (e.g. epilepsy)
Brain trauma
High fever (in children)
Low blood sugar
Drugs or withdrawal
Strobe lights (photosensitive epilepsy)
These can all disrupt ion channels, neurotransmitter balance, or network regulation, leading to runaway electrical activity.
From the album “Zip-Zap“
View all episodes
Spastic-Seizure-I.mp3
Spastic-Seizure-I.mp4
Spastic-Seizure-Unplugged-Underground-XVIII.mp3
Spastic-Seizure-Unplugged-Underground-XVIII.mp4
Spastic-Seizure-intro.mp3
[Intro]
Abnormal electrical activity
(In the brain)
Feel the weight, the gravity
(Of the strain)
[Verse 1]
Are your ions (on)
Does the flow know where to go
Action potential
Ions are on (on and on)
[Bridge]
(Zap!)
Under attack
(A grand mal sprawl)
[Chorus]
Abnormal electrical activity
(In the brain)
Feel the weight, the gravity
(Of the strain)
[Verse 2]
Capacitance
(And resistance)
The law of Ohm
(Om Ohm, Om Ohm)
[Bridge]
(Zap!)
Under attack
(A grand mal brawl)
[Chorus]
Abnormal electrical activity
(In the brain)
Feel the weight, the gravity
(Of the strain)
[Outro]
(Zap!)
Stand back (back, back, back)
——————————
[Verse 3]
The law of Ohm
(Om Ohm, Om Ohm)
Ions on
(And on and on)
[Bridge]
(Zap!)
Under attack
[Instrumental, Guitar Solo]
(A grand mal thrawl)
[Chorus]
Abnormal electrical activity
(In the brain)
Feel the weight, the gravity
(Of the strain)
[Outro]
(Zap!)
Stand back (back, back, back)
A SCIENCE NOTE
A spastic seizure (or tonic-clonic seizure, previously called a grand mal) involves abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which triggers involuntary muscle contractions. The physics and biology overlap here in some fascinating ways. Let’s break it down:
1. Electricity and the Brain: Basic Neurophysics
Your brain and nervous system are essentially electrochemical circuits.
How neurons communicate:
Neurons use electrical signals (called action potentials) to transmit messages.
These signals are caused by ions (charged particles) like Na⁺ and K⁺ moving across the cell membrane.
When the charge difference (voltage) across the membrane reaches a threshold, the neuron “fires.”
Key Physics:
Voltage: Difference in electric potential across the membrane.
Current: Flow of ions down the neuron’s axon.
Capacitance and resistance: Membranes act like tiny capacitors (charge storage) with built-in resistance.
Ohm’s Law applies: V = IR, where current (I) is driven by voltage (V) across resistance (R).
2. What Happens During a Spastic Seizure
A seizure occurs when:
Large groups of neurons fire uncontrollably and simultaneously.
The normal balance between excitatory (go!) and inhibitory (slow down!) signals is disrupted.
This causes a “storm” of electrical activity in the brain.
During a spastic or tonic-clonic seizure:
Tonic phase: Muscles suddenly stiffen (tonic contraction) due to sustained neural firing.
Clonic phase: Muscles rapidly contract and relax (jerking), driven by rhythmic bursts of electrical activity.
The motor cortex (controls movement) is often the source or relay point.
3. Physics of the Spasms: Electromuscular Coupling
Muscle contractions are triggered by:
Nerve impulses reaching muscle fibers.
Release of calcium ions (Ca²⁺) inside the muscle cells.
Calcium allows actin and myosin (muscle proteins) to slide past each other, contracting the muscle.
In a seizure:
The brain sends excessive, repeated electrical signals to muscles.
Muscles respond with violent, involuntary contractions.
The rhythm of firing during the clonic phase often appears chaotic but is sometimes semi-synchronized.
4. Recovery and Aftermath: The Refractory Period
After the seizure:
Neurons enter a refractory state — they can’t fire again until ionic balance is restored.
This involves pumps (like the sodium-potassium pump) actively restoring charge differences.
That’s why a person often appears confused, exhausted, or unconscious post-seizure — the brain is “rebooting.”
Bonus: What Triggers the Breakdown?
Genetics (e.g. epilepsy)
Brain trauma
High fever (in children)
Low blood sugar
Drugs or withdrawal
Strobe lights (photosensitive epilepsy)
These can all disrupt ion channels, neurotransmitter balance, or network regulation, leading to runaway electrical activity.
From the album “Zip-Zap“