What is temporal lobe epilepsy?
A person with a seizure has a sudden increase in electrical activity in the brain. Temporal lobe epilepsy is a form of seizures that occur in the temporal lobe of the brain. Two types of seizures may occur in those with temporal lobe epilepsy: simple partial seizures and complex partial seizures. A person with a simple seizure remains aware during the seizure, while a person with a complex seizure loses awareness during the seizure. Most people with temporal lobe epilepsy respond well to anticonvulsant medications.

What are the symptoms of temporal lobe epilepsy?
Symptoms of temporal lobe epilepsy depend on the type of seizure. Symptoms of a simple partial seizure in someone with temporal lobe epilepsy include the sensation that a seizure is about to occur, awareness of the seizure, anxiousness, and repetitive movements in one location of the body. Symptoms of a complex partial seizure in a person with temporal epilepsy include loss of awareness, unintentional emotional outbursts or vocal sounds, and involuntary actions, such as chewing or clumsiness.

How does the doctor treat temporal lobe epilepsy?
Treatment for temporal lobe epilepsy includes anticonvulsant medications. Additional treatment may include surgery, or a vagus nerve stimulation implant, which sends electrical impulses through a nerve in the chest to the brain. The impulses suppress the electrical activity in the brain that causes the seizures.