The role of convulsions in behavior

• Published in: Behavioral Science Vol. 2; no. 1; pp. 30 - 45
• Main Author: Chance, M. R. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: California John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 1957; University of Michigan, Mental Health Research Institute
• ISSN: 0005-7940; 1099-1743; 1932-300X
• DOI: 10.1002/bs.3830020104

Are convulsions always indicative of pathology? There is evidence that sometimes convulsions may be instances of adaptive behavior, as, for example, those associated with the falling posture in mice. This form of convulsion seems to protect the falling animal from hemorrhages of concussion. Certain types of convulsions, such as audiogenic seizures in the Peromyscus, are of genetic origin so that strains of mice subject to such seizures can be bred. This leads to the conclusion that certain convulsions may be regarded as parts of the “behavioral repertoire” of an animal which in certain circumstances may become adaptive.