What type of seizure is characterized by brief lapses in consciousness?

The type of seizure characterized by brief lapses in consciousness is the absence seizure. Individuals experiencing an absence seizure may seem to "zone out" or have a momentary loss of awareness of their surroundings, often lasting only a few seconds. These episodes can occur frequently and are generally subtle, which makes them sometimes difficult to recognize.

During an absence seizure, the person typically does not exhibit the convulsions or muscle rigidity associated with other types of seizures, such as tonic-clonic, which involve a full-body convulsion and loss of consciousness. Unlike atonic seizures, where there is a sudden loss of muscle tone, or myoclonic seizures, which feature quick, jerking movements of muscles without a loss of consciousness, absence seizures specifically focus on the transient state of unresponsiveness. This unique characteristic makes them distinct within the broader classification of seizure types.