Abnormal electrical disturbances in the brain cause focal seizures, which can be simple or complex. These seizures can result in numbness, muscle twitching, and memory loss. Treatment options include medication and surgery.
Limited areas of abnormal electrical disturbances in the brain lead to focal seizures. Symptoms will depend on the area affected by the abnormal electrical disturbance in the brain. These seizure types can be characterized as simple or complex, each with different outcomes.
Interruptions to normal brain activity can be caused by electrical disturbances. These disturbances occur due to neurons generating uncoordinated electrical signals. Normal and abnormal nerve cells within the brain can send out abnormal electrical signals, resulting in seizures. Head trauma, like stroke, can also lead to abnormal electrical activity and disturbances in the brain, which lead to these seizures.
Electrical disturbances in the brain lead to a number of conditions. All seizures are caused by electrical disturbances in the brain, including focal seizures and seizures that affect the whole brain. Other conditions related to electrical disturbances include epilepsy and grand mal seizures.
Seizure disorders are a common neurological problem seen by doctors. These attacks can be a one-time event or many can occur over a period of time. Those patients who continue to have recurring seizures are diagnosed as having epilepsy.
Symptoms associated with focal seizures vary based on the specific part of the brain affected by the seizure. This can include numbness in specific limbs or part of the face, loss of vision and muscle twitching. Other signs of this type of seizure can include nausea, pain, and vomiting.
Simple focal seizures do not affect the patient’s memory. Awareness is also unaffected. The person suffering from seizures related to electrical disturbances will be fully aware of what is happening and will remember the incident.
Complex focal seizures also have electrical disturbances as the root cause. After experiencing a complex focal seizure, a patient may have no memory of the actual seizure or seizure-related symptoms. Additionally, the patient may have difficulty remembering events prior to or immediately following the accident. This gap in memory is a factor that differentiates complex focal seizures from simple ones.
Secondary generalization can occur after this type of seizure. With secondary generalization, the electrical disturbances that caused the initial focal seizure continue. When this occurs, electrical disturbances can affect the entire brain, causing a generalized seizure.
Treatment of focal seizures varies. Medications may be prescribed to prevent or limit future focal seizure events. In some cases, particularly for epileptic patients with little success at controlling seizures with medication, surgery may be an option.
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