The number of times that a published article is cited is one indicator of its scientific impact. An article is termed a "Citation Classic" once it has accumulated more than 400 citations. Trends in these highly cited works allow projection of future directions of high-impact research within a field. Herein, we identified 89 articles in the field of epilepsy published in 35 different journals that have been cited more than 400 times (citation range 401-3,749). The journal that published the greatest number of Citation Classics was Epilepsia (9 articles with 656 mean citations per article). Laboratory studies constituted the fastest growing area of highly cited epilepsy research, whereas clinical studies showed a bimodal distribution in representation among Citation Classics. There were also considerably fewer epilepsy-specific Citation Classics compared to other disciplines. In this study, we find that the Citation Classics of epilepsy comprise a heterogeneous group of articles and that changes in the trends of these highly cited works represent the evolution of epilepsy research over time. The results of this study should inform the academic community and provide a guide of essential literature for scientists who are engaged in epilepsy research.
Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2012 International League Against Epilepsy.