The brain contains two frontal lobes located at the front of the brain. The frontal lobes are the largest of all the lobes and, as such, are responsible for a vast array of functions. Just a few of these functions include muscle control and movement, cognitive thinking, decision-making, language production, personality, and behaviour.
As its name implies, a frontal lobe seizure is a seizure that originates in one of the frontal lobes of the brain. Frontal lobe seizures often occur at night. They can lead to personality changes and sleep disturbances. Consequently, frontal lobe seizures are sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as a psychiatric condition or sleep disorder.
For some, the first symptom of a frontal lobe seizure is an aura. An aura takes place anywhere from several seconds to an hour before the seizure occurs. Because of this, an aura is a useful warning that a seizure is impending.
Auras can be quite diverse and hard to describe. Examples of common auras are listed below:
A frontal lobe seizure generally lasts less than 30 seconds. However, frontal lobe seizures tend to occur in clusters, especially when the seizures are not controlled by medication. A cluster is when three or more seizures happen within 24 hours. As stated earlier, frontal lobe seizures often occur at night.
The symptoms of a frontal lobe seizure can be quite diverse. Some symptoms are listed below:
One should immediately seek help in any of the following situations:
A frontal lobe seizure occurs when neurons emit uncontrolled bursts of electrical signals within the frontal lobe of the brain. But what causes this abnormal electrical activity? For a comprehensive list of causes, reference the following medical conditions:
It is important to note that there is one rare, genetic condition that causes frontal lobe seizures. It is called autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE). It is a rare disorder that can be inherited from one’s parents.
Three risk factors for the development of frontal lobe seizures are:
Being related to someone who has frontal lobe seizures increases one’s odds of having them as well.
A neurologist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats seizures. To reach a diagnosis, the neurologist will first ask the patient to describe their seizure in as much detail as possible. This includes any details of what preceded the seizure (i.e., an aura) and what transpired afterwards. If possible, the neurologist will consult with anyone who witnessed the seizure. Video recordings are also beneficial for diagnosis.
A neurologist also relies on various brain imaging techniques to diagnose frontal lobe seizures. Brain imaging techniques allow the neurologist to:
Brain imaging techniques include the following: CT scan, MRI, fMRI, PET scan, SPECT test, SISCOM, and MEG.
If left untreated, frontal lobe seizures can lead to the following complications:
Many of those who suffer from frontal lobe seizures are able to control their seizures with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). However, for some individuals, medication is not sufficient in controlling their seizures. In these cases, other treatment options may be considered. They include the following:
If you are having signs or symptoms of a seizure or your current treatment plan is not effective in preventing frontal lobe seizures, contact your doctor right away.