What type of seizures involve the entire brain?

Generalized seizures are characterized by their involvement of the entire brain, affecting both hemispheres simultaneously. This type of seizure can manifest in various forms, including tonic-clonic seizures (previously known as grand mal seizures), absence seizures, and myoclonic seizures, among others. During a generalized seizure, the individual typically loses consciousness and may experience muscle stiffening and convulsions, depending on the specific type of generalized seizure.

In comparison, focal seizures, also referred to as partial seizures, originate in a specific area of the brain and can either remain localized (simple partial seizures) or spread to involve other areas, leading to more widespread symptoms (complex partial seizures). Status seizures, while serious, generally refer to a prolonged seizure state where a person does not regain consciousness between seizures, rather than indicating a type of seizure that involves the brain entirely. Thus, the defining feature of generalized seizures is their effect on the whole brain, making them the correct answer to the question.