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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffA temporal lobe seizure starts in the part of the brain that processes emotions, fight or flight reactions, and short-term memory. Many who have temporal lobe seizures may experience odd feelings — ranging from euphoria to fear, deja vu, and hallucinations of taste or smell — at the onset of their seizures.
Seizures beginning in the temporal lobes may stem from an anatomical defect or scar. But, it's not always possible to determine the cause of a temporal lobe seizure.
Temporal lobe seizures are often resistant to anti-seizure medications. Surgery may be an option for some people if their seizures consistently begin in only one of their two temporal lobes. Many become free of temporal lobe seizures when the affected portion of the lobe is removed.
- Temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsy Foundation. http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/types/syndromes/temporallobe.cfm. Accessed May 7, 2009.
- Stafstrom CE, et al. Pathophysiology of seizures and epilepsy. http://www.uptodate.com/index/home.html. Accessed April 17, 2009.
- Foldvary-Schaefer N, et al. Epilepsy and epilepsy syndromes. In: Goetz, CG. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier: 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/136248193-3/0/1488/441.html?tocnode=53805069&fromURL=441.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3618-0..10052-9_4538. Accessed May 8, 2009.
- Seizures and epilepsy: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/epilepsy/detail_epilepsy.htm?css=print. Accessed April 24, 2009.
- Ropper AH, et al. Epilepsy and other seizure disorders. In: Ropper AH, et al. Adams and Victor's Principles of Neurology. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3632229. Accessed April 22, 2009.
- Seizure disorders. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec16/ch214/ch214a.html. April 26, 2009.
- Schuele SU, et al. Intractable epilepsy: Management and therapeutic alternatives. Lancet Neurology. 2008;7:514.
- Spooner CG, et al. New-onset temporal lobe epilepsy in children. Neurology. 2006;67:2147.
- Practice parameter update: Management issues for women with epilepsy-focus on pregnancy (an evidence based review): Teratogenesis and perinatal outcomes. St. Paul, Minn.: American Academy of Neurology. http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/WNL.0b013e3181a6b312v1. Accessed April 27, 2009.
- Britton JW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 14, 2009.
