What Are the Symptoms of Temporal Lobe Seizure?
A seizure originating in the temporal lobe of the brain may be preceded by an aura or warning symptom, such as:
- Abnormal sensations (which may include a rising or "funny" feeling under your breast bone or in the area of your stomach)
- Hallucinations (including sights, smells, tastes)
- Vivid deja vu (a sense of familiarity) or recalled memories or emotions
- A sudden, intense emotion not related to anything happening at the time
During the seizure, a person may experience motor disturbances, sensory symptoms, or autonomic symptoms.
Motor or movement disturbances (called automatisms) may include the following:
- Rhythmic muscle contractions on one side of the body or face
- Abnormal mouth behaviors (lip smacking, chewing for no reason, slobbering)
- Abnormal head movements (forced turning of the head or eyes)
- Repetitive movements (such as picking at clothing)
Other sensory symptoms may include the following sensations that start in one area and spread:
- Numbness
- Tingling
- A feeling that the flesh is crawling
Autonomic symptoms may include the following:
- Abdominal pain or nausea
- Sweating, flushing, dilated pupils, or rapid heartbeat
Depending on whether the person remains conscious, they may not remember having had a seizure at all. A period of confusion frequently follows seizures and can last several minutes.
