Temporal lobe epilepsy
• The temporal lobe is the most common location for partial epilepsy
• Functions of the temporal lobe: memory, smell, hearing, automatic behavior, autonomic function (sweating, heart rising, etc) and understanding of speech (the dominant side-usually the left temporal lobe).
• Common temporal lobe auras (the earliest symptom of a seizure) include a rising butterfly sensation in the chest, déjà vu (a sense that something has happened before), jamais vu (a sense that something has never happened before), or a smell. Seizures that begin in a temporal lobe structure called the amygdala, will cause a sensation of fear. Seizures that begin in the auditory region of the temporal lobe may cause a simple (e.g, ringing) or complex (e.g., music) auditory hallucination.
• Confusion and inability to interact with the surrounding environment are typical features of temporal lobe seizures. Since the temporal lobes are the location of the memory centers, loss of memory of the event is frequent (amnesia).
• Witnesses may see the patient having automatisms (automatic movements) like oral automatisms (lipsmacking) and manual automatisms (picking at clothes), or dystonia (fixed posturing of an arm or leg)
• Temporal lobe seizures can occur during the day or nighttime. There is no typical trigger.
• Four out of ten persons with temporal lobe epilepsy will not respond to medical treatment and may be candidates for epilepsy surgery