Edit page | Page history | Printable version

Automatism

(Science: neurology) a condition whereby an individual is consciously or unconsciously, but involuntarily, compelled to perform certain motor or verbal acts, often purposeless, foolish or harmful.

Seen in psychomotor epilepsy, catatonic schizophrenia, psychogenic fugue, complex partial seizure, posttraumatic automatism and other conditions.

Synonym: automatic behaviour.

Origin: gr. Automatismos = self action