OverviewTemporal lobe seizures begin in the temporal lobes of your brain, which process emotions and are important for short-term memory. Some symptoms of a temporal lobe seizure may be related to these functions, including having odd feelings — such as euphoria, deja vu or fear. Show Temporal lobe seizures are sometimes called focal seizures with impaired awareness. Some people remain aware of what's happening, but during more-intense seizures, you might look awake but be unresponsive. Your lips and hands may make purposeless, repetitive movements. Temporal lobe seizures may stem from an anatomical defect or scar in your temporal lobe, but the cause is often unknown. Temporal lobe seizures are treated with medication. For some people who don't respond to medication, surgery may be an option. SymptomsAn unusual sensation (aura) may precede a temporal lobe seizure, acting as a warning. Not everyone who has temporal lobe seizures has auras, and not everyone who has auras remembers them. The aura is actually the first part of a focal seizure before consciousness is impaired. Examples of auras include:
Sometimes temporal lobe seizures impair your ability to respond to others. This type of temporal lobe seizure usually lasts 30 seconds to two minutes. Characteristic signs and symptoms include:
After a temporal lobe seizure, you may have:
In extreme cases, what starts as a temporal lobe seizure evolves into a generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizure — featuring convulsions and loss of consciousness. When to see a doctorSeek immediate medical help if any of the following occurs:
If you experience a seizure for the first time, seek medical advice. Seek medical advice in these circumstances:
Get the latest epilepsy information from Mayo Clinic delivered to your inbox.Subscribe for free and receive the latest on epilepsy treatment, care and management. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information, and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. CausesOften, the cause of temporal lobe seizures remains unknown. However, they can be a result of a number of factors, including:
During normal waking and sleeping, your brain cells produce varying electrical activity. If the electrical activity in many brain cells becomes abnormally synchronized, a convulsion or seizure may occur. If this happens in just one area of the brain, the result is a focal seizure. A temporal lobe seizure is a focal seizure that originates in one of the temporal lobes. ComplicationsOver time, repeated temporal lobe seizures can cause the part of the brain that's responsible for learning and memory (hippocampus) to shrink. Brain cell loss in this area may cause memory problems. Feb. 24, 2021 Does temporal lobe epilepsy influence personality?Temporal lobe epilepsy—a common form of epilepsy characterized by seizures that begin in the memory-regulating temporal lobe—does appear to influence personality, though not in the way many may think and certainly not in the way people have believed throughout history.
Does epilepsy cause personality changes?Epilepsy can be accompanied by changes in cognition, personality, affect, and other elements of behavior. There is no single epileptic constitution or personality complex. A unifying theme to the behavior in epilepsy is diversity.
Does temporal lobe epilepsy cause anger issues?Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and mood
So someone may experience unusual feelings of anger or anxiety and this may actually be a seizure in the temporal lobe. If it is a seizure then they will not be in control over those feelings. This can be difficult for other people to understand.
Can temporal lobe cause mood swings?Seizures with temporal lobe involvement, complex partial seizures (formerly known as psychomotor or temporal lobe epilepsy) are most commonly associated with behavioural changes. Such changes can include rapid fluctuations in mood, or over-attention to detail.
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