Frontal lobe seizures

Overview

Frontal lobe seizures occur when there is abnormal electrical activity in the front part of the brain, specifically behind the forehead. The frontal lobes, the largest of the brain’s four lobes, play crucial roles in behavior, cognition (thinking, learning, remembering), movement, and speech. These seizures are categorized as a form of focal epilepsy, meaning they originate in a specific area of the brain rather than multiple areas.

Frontal lobe seizures can often be misdiagnosed as mental health or sleep disorders due to associated personality changes and sleep disturbances.

Frontal lobe seizures frequently occur while people are asleep. Frontal lobe seizures are a common type of epilepsy, which is a neurological disorder characterized by abnormal signals sent by clusters of brain cells, leading to seizures. Apart from the electrical activity in the brain, frontal lobe seizures can also be triggered by conditions such as abnormal brain tissue, infection, injury, stroke, tumors, or other factors. Given the importance and extensive functions of the frontal lobe, these seizures can result in peculiar symptoms that may resemble psychiatric issues or sleep disorders.

Frontal lobe seizures can typically be managed with medication. However, in cases where anti-epileptic drugs are not effective, there are alternative options available. Surgery or the use of an electrical stimulation device may be considered as potential treatments for individuals with frontal lobe seizures that are resistant to medication. The goal is to find an approach that effectively controls the seizures and minimizes their impact on the individual’s daily life.

Symptoms

Most frontal lobe seizures end within 30 seconds. Recovery occurs quickly in various circumstances.

Frontal lobe seizure warning signs and symptoms could include:

• Total or partial inability to communicate or speaking difficulties.
• A sideways movement of the head and eyes
• Explosive laughing or yells, including foul language.
• Repetitive motions like swaying, peddling a bicycle, or thrusting the pelvis
• An abnormal posture where one arm is extended and the other is flexed, as if the individual were posing like a fencer

If you experience any symptoms or signs of a seizure, consult your doctor. If you notice someone suffering a seizure that lasts more than five minutes, call for immediate medical assistance.

Causes

Frontal lobe seizures, can be attributed to various factors. Approximately half of these seizures result from brain development issues, where the cortex, the outermost layer of the brain, fails to form properly during fetal development. Other causes of frontal lobe seizures include brain infections, brain injuries or trauma such as stroke, and the presence of brain tumors or lesions. There is also a rare form of nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy called autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE), which is caused by genetic mutations and can be inherited from parents. However, for around half of the individuals with frontal lobe epilepsy, the specific cause remains unknown.