Functional seizures (FS) resemble epileptic seizures; however, unlike epileptic seizures, they are not associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The causes of FS are not well understood – it has been suggested that they are an automatic presentation of a mental representation of seizures due to a dysfunction in the areas of the brain which inhibit behaviours. Because there is a lack of understanding of the biology behind FS, there is also a lack of effective treatments for patients with FS. The most used is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT); however, there is little evidence that this has a long-term benefit.

An additional frequent symptom of FS is chronic pain, which is often reported as a trigger for seizures in patients with FS. Because of the link between chronic pain and FS, it has been suggested that both conditions may be considered a part of functional neurological disorder (FND).

The brain functions using electrical activity. This activity can be measured using brain waves, which are patterns of the electrical activity in the brain. Brain waves in the alpha frequency occur when the brain is trying to stop processing irrelevant information – such as pain from a non-painful stimulus. Previous research into other chronic pain conditions has shown that pain symptoms can be reduced by using auditory or visual stimuli set to this alpha frequency. We think that because FS and chronic pain can both be considered part of FND, treatments which have been shown to have a positive effect on chronic pain may also be beneficial for patients with FS. This study will be exploratory to gather information about whether patients with FS are able to maintain a programme of intervention with auditory alpha stimulation and whether this intervention has a positive effect on both seizures and pain levels.