Our previous studies on cerebral metabolic activity in genetic absence epilepsy rats from Strasbourg (GAERS) were in favor of decreased functional activity during absences and normal or increased interictal activity. To ascertain that hypothesis, in the present study we performed continuous measurements of CBF in both children with typical absence epilepsy and GAERS, using Doppler ultrasonography and laser-Doppler flowmetry, respectively. CBF fluctuations during absences were recorded in four children between 5 and 6 years of age and 16 adult GAERS. In both children and animals, CBF measured in the middle cerebral artery and cortical capillaries, respectively, significantly decreased by a median value of 20-24% under basal levels during spontaneous absences. In GAERS, CBF levels were continuously decreased during haloperidol-induced absence status epilepticus, while they were not affected by ethosuximide. Conversely, convulsive seizures induced in rats either by kainate or picrotoxin led to a 175-664% increase in CBF levels. In conclusion, the present data show that during spontaneous absences, CBF decreases under basal levels in both cortical capillaries (GAERS) and the middle cerebral artery (children). Moreover, these fluctuations occur in vessels with normal vascular reactivity, are not mediated by changes in PO2, PCO2, or arterial blood pressure, and represent rather a response to reduced metabolic demand.