The syndrome is named after 19th century French physician Augustin Marie Morvan (1819-1897).
Some cases with this syndrome have been suggested to have an autoimmune origin, depending on associated autoimmune diseases as myasthenia gravis, coexisting thymus tumors, serum antibodies to potassium channels and resolution of symptoms by immunomodulating treatment methods (e.g. plasmapheresis, thymectomy or immunosuppression).