By Brooke Dulka, Ph.D.: For Complete Post, Click Here…
Frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) is a neurological disorder that is characterized by seizures in the frontal lobe of the brain. It is the second-most common type of epilepsy, after temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Like TLE, FLE seizures are typically characterized by focal, or partial, seizures. Focal epilepsy is a seizure condition that originates in one part of the brain only. In frontal lobe epilepsy, focal seizures are predominant. They can, however, progress to generalized, tonic-clonic seizures involving both sides of the brain, with characteristic jerking movements and muscle stiffening.
FLE can happen in both children and adults. The cortical (outer layer or cortex) areas of the brain are large, and they have many important functions. Dysfunction in these areas due to seizure activity can cause symptoms of many types of disorders, including psychiatric, neuropsychological, and sleeping disorders. Because these symptoms can be due to a variety of disorders, they can sometimes lead to misdiagnosis and delays in receiving the correct treatment. This is why having an understanding of FLE is so important.
Symptoms of Frontal Lobe Epilepsy
In neurology, FLE is characterized by seizure activity in the brain’s frontal lobe. These seizures usually last less than 30 seconds. They most often occur during sleep, or between the hours of 2 a.m. and noon. Signs and symptoms of frontal lobe seizures might include:
- Movements of the head or eyes to one side
- Complete or partial impairment of consciousness
- Difficulty speaking
- Loud yelling, vocalization of obscenities, or laughter
- Unusual body posturing, such as extending the arms, which can be asymmetric
- Repetitive movements, such as rocking or pelvic thrusting
