In epilepsy, which type of seizure is characterized by brief lapses in consciousness?

Absence seizures are characterized by brief lapses in consciousness, typically lasting only a few seconds. During an absence seizure, the individual may appear to be staring off into space and is usually unresponsive to external stimuli. This can sometimes be mistaken for daydreaming, but it is a distinct seizure type with a specific electroencephalographic (EEG) pattern, often showing a 3 Hz spike-and-wave discharge.

Tonic-clonic seizures involve both tonic (stiffening of muscles) and clonic (rhythmic jerking) phases, which are quite different from the momentary absence of awareness experienced in absence seizures. Myoclonic seizures involve abrupt, brief jerks of the body, not lapses in consciousness. Complex partial seizures typically involve altered awareness and may include behaviors such as automatisms, but the key feature is the altered state rather than a simple lapse in consciousness. Therefore, absence seizures are the only type listed that fits the description provided in the question.