After severe birth asphyxia, infants may have motor automatisms characterized by

(E). After severe birth asphyxia, infants may have motor automatisms characterized by oral-buccal-lingual movements, rotary limb activities (rowing, pedaling, and swimming), tonic posturing, or myoclonus. These motor activities are not usually accompanied by time-synchronized electroencephalographic discharges, may not signify cortical epileptic activity, respond poorly to anticonvulsant therapy, and are associated with a poor prognosis. Such automatisms may represent cortical depression that produces a brainstem release phenomenon or subcortical seizures.