Epilepsy or "a seizure disorder" is a neurological condition that affects the central nervous system. The fourth most common neurological disorder, epilepsy affects approximately 3 million Americans (1 in 26) of all ages and races. A person is said to have epilepsy when they have experienced two or more unprovoked seizures that are separated by at least 24 hours or one unprovoked seizure and a probability of further seizures. One seizure may not mean that epilepsy is present.

Many aspects of epilepsy are still a mystery, but it is known that seizures are caused by disturbances in the electrical activity in the brain. Seizures can be the result of a brain injury or damage, genetics, infectious diseases, and developmental disorders, but often occur without a known cause.