AMBULATORY AUTOMATISM Meaning and
Definition
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Ambulatory automatism refers to a complex behavior or series of actions performed unconsciously or without intention while a person is in a state of altered consciousness. This phenomenon can occur during sleepwalking, epileptic seizures, or other conditions that cause a person to temporarily lose conscious control over their actions.
In medical terms, automatism is defined as the execution of coordinated motor movements without any willful control or awareness. Ambulatory automatism specifically refers to this involuntary behavior when it involves walking or moving around while the person remains in a state of altered consciousness. This could include actions such as getting out of bed, walking around the house, or even leaving the house without any recollection or awareness of doing so.
Ambulatory automatism usually occurs during the non-REM stage of sleep, characterized by deep sleep and slow brain waves. It can also occur during certain types of seizures, such as complex partial seizures, which affect only a specific region of the brain and can cause a temporary loss of consciousness.
While ambulatory automatism is more commonly associated with sleepwalking, it is important to note that it can also occur during wakefulness due to various medical conditions, brain injuries, or the effects of certain medications. It is essential to distinguish ambulatory automatism from purposeful actions or deliberate movements, as the person experiencing it is not consciously controlling or aware of their actions.
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A. Which takes the form of moving about aimlessly, of tramping (vagabondage), or of traveling; poriomania, fugue.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for AMBULATORY AUTOMATISM
- zmbulatory automatism
- smbulatory automatism
- wmbulatory automatism
- qmbulatory automatism
- anbulatory automatism
- akbulatory automatism
- ajbulatory automatism
- amvulatory automatism
- amnulatory automatism
- amhulatory automatism
- amgulatory automatism
- ambylatory automatism
- ambhlatory automatism
- ambjlatory automatism
- ambilatory automatism
- amb8latory automatism
- amb7latory automatism
- ambukatory automatism
- ambupatory automatism
- ambuoatory automatism
Etymology of AMBULATORY AUTOMATISM
The word "ambulatory" comes from the Latin word "ambulatorius", which means "movable" or "moving about". It is derived from the verb "ambulare", meaning "to walk" or "to go about".
The term "automatism" comes from the Greek word "automatos", which means "self-moving" or "self-acting". It is derived from the combination of "auto" meaning "self" and "matos" meaning "moving" or "acting".
When combined, "ambulatory automatism" essentially refers to a state characterized by involuntary or automatic movements, particularly those involving walking or physical motion.
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