Background: Determining loss of consciousness during slaughter in calves is fundamentally a neurobiological challenge requiring distinction between cortical awareness and subcortical reflex activity. Electroencephalography (EEG) and evoked potentials directly assess cortical responsiveness, while cerebral blood flow (CBF) constitutes the upstream physiological determinant of cortical viability. Aim: To synthesize current evidence on neurologic effects of slaughter modalities in calves, integrating electrophysiological and cerebral perfusion data within a mechanistic framework relevant to welfare monitoring and policy. Methods: A structured narrative review was conducted following SANRA principles. PubMed/MEDLINE was searched from inception to January 2026 using combinations of terms related to calves, cattle, EEG, evoked potentials, cerebral blood flow, stunning, and exsanguination. Inclusion was limited to peer-reviewed, PubMed-indexed studies reporting neurophysiologic endpoints in cattle or calves. EFSA scientific opinions were consulted for contextual interpretation. Results: Effective penetrating captive bolt and appropriately applied electrical stunning produce cortical lesions compatible with rapid unconsciousness. Exsanguination without prior stunning induces rapidly progressive cerebral hypoperfusion leading to cortical failure typically within seconds, with measurable inter-individual variability. Animal-based measures (ABMs) demonstrate imperfect concordance with cortical endpoints. Integration of EEG with perfusion metrics would provide a physiologically coherent method to distinguish concussive suppression, post-ictal states, and ischemic cortical failure. Conclusions: EEG and evoked potentials remain the strongest markers of cortical unconsciousness in calves. Complementary assessment of CBF can reduce interpretive uncertainty and enhance welfare monitoring precision.

Background: Sleep and epilepsy are linked through a complex, bidirectional relationship in which physiological sleep processes influence cortical excitability and seizure susceptibility, while epileptic activity and its treatments profoundly affect sleep architecture and quality. Sleep disturbances (including insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, circadian rhythm disorders, excessive daytime sleepiness, and fragmented sleep) are highly prevalent among people with epilepsy and contribute to impaired seizure control, cognitive dysfunction, psychiatric comorbidities, reduced quality of life, and increased healthcare utilization. Although substantial research has examined individual aspects of this relationship, the evidence remains fragmented across multiple disciplines, limiting its translation into comprehensive clinical practice.Objective: This scoping review aimed to systematically map the contemporary evidence regarding the role of sleep across the epilepsy care continuum, encompassing pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical assessment, diagnostic strategies, therapeutic interventions, digital health technologies, and emerging research priorities, while identifying critical knowledge gaps to guide future investigation and precision medicine approaches. Methods: This scoping review was conducted according to the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley, refined by Levac and colleagues, and further finalized by the Joanna Briggs Institute, and was reported in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Comprehensive searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library identified English-language studies published from January 2020 onward. Eligible publications included adults and children with epilepsy or seizure disorders addressing at least one sleep-related domain. Evidence was descriptively synthesized across predefined domains, including sleep physiology and epileptogenesis; sleep disorders and epilepsy; effects of antiseizure medications on sleep; sleep deprivation and seizure risk; diagnostic modalities, including polysomnography, electroencephalography, actigraphy, and wearable technologies; digital health and artificial intelligence; therapeutic interventions; perioperative and long-term follow-up; implementation challenges; and health equity. Conclusions: By providing the first comprehensive mapping of sleep throughout the epilepsy care continuum, this review establishes an integrated conceptual framework linking mechanistic, diagnostic, therapeutic, and technological advances. The findings highlight priorities for multidisciplinary research, support the implementation of precision sleep medicine in epilepsy, and inform future evidence-based clinical strategies designed to optimize seizure control, neurological outcomes, and patient-centered care.