Term Gelastic originates from the Greek word "Gelos" which means laughter. The main sign of a gelastic seizure is a sudden outhurst of laughter or crying with no apparent cause. The laughter may sound unpleasant and sardonic rather than joyful. The outburst usually lasts for less than a minute.> During or shortly after a seizure, an individual might display some twitching, strange eye movements, lip smacking, fidgeting or mumbling. If a person of who suffers from the seizures is hooked up to an electroencephalogram it will reveal interictal epileptic discharges.> A gelastic seizure is typically caused by a hypothalamic hamartomas, or a brain tumor.> Gelastic seizures are not responsive to therapy. They can produce secondary seizure characteristics which may respond to medications or surgery.">