Topic Overview

Temporal lobe epilepsy involves the portions of the brain that control emotions and memory. The temporal lobes are located on each side of the head just above the ears at the temples. Temporal lobe epilepsy can cause both partial and generalized seizures.

Temporal lobe seizures cause behaviors such as smacking of the lips or rubbing the hands together. Other features of the seizures may include emotional or thought disturbances and hallucinations involving sounds, smells, or tastes.

Treatment with medicine controls seizures in many people who have temporal lobe epilepsy. A type of brain surgery called anterior temporal lobectomy is another treatment option for people with this type of epilepsy.