Understanding Partial Seizures
Partial seizures which involved an electrical discharge in a limited area of the brain come in a variety of forms. Let us look at some common types.
A partial seizure begins with an electrical discharge in one limited area of the brain. How are partial seizure affects someone depends on whether it is a simple partial seizure or a complex partial seizure and where in the brain it occurs?
Different parts of the brain, control different functions. The cortex with the thinking part of the brain is divided into four lobes, frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital. Other deeper brain structures relate to life support functions, movement and other semi automatic behaviors. At the back end of the frontal lobe, is the motor strip, which signals muscles to move. A seizure in this part of the brain will cause uncontrolled movements or twitching lasting for a few seconds to a few minutes.
Towards the top of the motor strip or nerves controlling the leg muscles, lower down are nerves controlling the trunk then the arms, fingers, face, and mouth. If the seizure spreads along the motor strip, the twitching can march along the different parts of the body. Just behind the motor strip is the skin sensation area. A seizure here will cause tingling in the affected part of the body; however, tingling in the skin usually is not due to seizures. The back lobe of the brain is the occipital lobe. It contains brain cells responsible for vision. Seizures in the occipital lobe can produce flashing lights, shimmering lines or visual hallucinations. The temporal lobe is the part of the brain that is more prone to develop seizures. It is responsible for many complex activities including the formation on retrieval of memories and the control of emotional states. If the temporal lobe seizure spreads to both temporal regions then the manifestation of the seizures increase with the pause in ongoing activities, confusion, temporary memory loss, and fragmentary automatic robot like behaviors. These types of seizures is called the complex partial seizure. It is the most common type of seizure in adults.
In general, when awareness memory and consciousness are preserved during the seizure, then the seizure is called simple partial. However, if any are impaired then the seizure is called complex partial. Someone experiencing a complex partial seizure lives in a moment to moment world. During this time he or she may repeat the same phrase or action over and over in an automatic loop, not recognizing the repetition. This person also may fumble hands, smack the lips, or grab tightly on to things during the seizure. This automatic activity is called an automatism.
Others just freeze and place and stare blankly with no automatisms and hardly any movement. After a complex partial seizure people do not remember what was said or even what they did during the seizure. Some do not remember having a seizure at all. Later the memory starts working again except for a gap during the seizure. Understanding what occurs during the seizure begins with the inside that there are different kinds of seizures, each with a different impact.
If you or someone close to you is suffering from seizures, please see a physician.
The movies on this series can be viewed in any order. If you wish to watch this clips in their original sequence the next video is understanding generalized seizures.
