Plain English Meaning
A brief episode where the brain or nerves suddenly fail to do their job — for example, you pass out, have a seizure, briefly can't move a limb, or lose vision — and then recover. The FAA treats any event like this as a serious red flag for medical certification, even if you feel completely fine now.
Full Definition
A short-lived episode in which part of the nervous system stops working normally, producing symptoms such as fainting, loss of consciousness, seizure, paralysis, or sudden disturbance of vision, balance, or sensation, with full recovery afterward. In FAA medical certification, any such episode — even if it resolved completely and the cause is unknown — is a disqualifying medical history item that must be reported and reviewed.
Context Anchor
Seen in medical certificate discussions, especially when the FAA or an aviation medical examiner reviews a history of fainting, seizures, sudden weakness, or other unexplained neurological events.