Temporal Lobe Seizure – Symptoms and Causes

ByJanis Updated

Overview

Temporal lobe seizures start in the brain’s temporal lobes, which handle emotions and short-term memory. During these seizures, people might experience unusual feelings like fear, joy, or déjà vu.

These seizures are sometimes referred to as focal seizures with impaired awareness.

Some individuals remain conscious during a seizure, while others might appear awake but won’t respond to their surroundings. Those experiencing more severe seizures may show repetitive movements of their lips and hands.

The exact cause of temporal lobe seizures often remains unknown. However, scarring in the temporal lobe can be a potential trigger.

Treatment typically involves medication, with surgery as an option for those who don’t respond well to drugs.

Key symptoms:

  • Unusual emotional responses
  • Memory disruptions
  • Repetitive movements
  • Varied levels of awareness

Most patients can manage their condition effectively with proper medical care and treatment plans from healthcare providers.

Signs and Symptoms

Temporal lobe seizures often start with a strange feeling called an aura. This warning sign doesn’t happen for everyone, and some people don’t remember having one. The aura is actually the first part of the seizure before consciousness changes.

Common aura experiences include:

  • Sudden feelings of fear or happiness
  • A strange sense that you’ve experienced the moment before (déjà vu)
  • Unusual smells or tastes that appear suddenly
  • A rising sensation in your stomach similar to riding a roller coaster

During a temporal lobe seizure, which typically lasts 30 seconds to 2 minutes, a person might:

  • Become unresponsive to others
  • Stare blankly
  • Smack their lips repeatedly
  • Make chewing or swallowing movements
  • Show repetitive finger movements, like picking at things

After the seizure ends, the person might:

  • Feel confused and have trouble speaking
  • Not remember what happened during the seizure
  • Be unaware they had a seizure
  • Feel extremely tired

Sometimes, a temporal lobe seizure can develop into a generalized tonic-clonic seizure (also called a grand mal seizure). This more severe type causes convulsions and loss of consciousness.

When to Get Medical Help

Call emergency services (911) immediately if:

  • The seizure continues for more than 5 minutes
  • The person doesn’t start breathing normally or regain consciousness after the seizure
  • Another seizure begins right after the first one ends
  • Recovery is incomplete or slower than usual
  • The person is pregnant or has diabetes
  • An injury occurs during the seizure

Anyone experiencing their first seizure should see a doctor.

Contact your doctor if:

  • You think you or your child might have had a seizure
  • Seizures become more frequent or intense
  • New seizure symptoms develop

Causes

The exact cause of temporal lobe seizures often remains unknown to medical professionals. However, several factors may trigger these seizures:

  • Brain injuries from trauma
  • Brain infections like encephalitis and meningitis (including past infections)
  • Scarring in the hippocampus area (gliosis)
  • Abnormally formed blood vessels in the brain
  • Stroke damage
  • Brain tumors
  • Inherited genetic conditions
  • Alcohol withdrawal

Brain cells continuously generate electrical signals during wakefulness and sleep. Temporal lobe seizures happen when a sudden burst of electrical activity occurs specifically in one of the temporal lobes.

This represents a type of focal seizure, meaning the unusual electrical activity remains confined to a specific brain region rather than affecting the entire brain.

The brain’s normal electrical patterns become disrupted in this particular region, leading to the characteristic symptoms associated with temporal lobe seizures.

Risk Factors

Several factors can increase the risk of temporal lobe seizures, especially when they occur early in life:

  • Brain injuries
  • Brain infections like encephalitis or meningitis
  • Febrile seizures (seizures caused by high fevers)

These conditions can affect the temporal lobe area of the brain, making seizures more likely to develop later.

Complications

Repeated seizures in the temporal lobe can damage the brain over time. The hippocampus helps with learning and memory, and may shrink from these seizures. This causes brain cells to be lost.

Memory problems often develop as these brain cells die off. The damage happens slowly but can have lasting effects on cognitive function.

Health Writer

Janis's areas of expertise include nutrition, exercise, stress management, and mental health. She is passionate about educating and empowering people to take control of their health and make positive changes that can last a lifetime. Janis believes that small, sustainable changes are the key to long-term success, and she works with her clients to develop personalized plans that fit their individual needs and lifestyles.