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What is Jacksonian Epilepsy?

Karyn Maier
Karyn Maier
Karyn Maier
Karyn Maier

Jacksonian epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by simple partial seizures that usually occur in only one side of the body. Like other forms of epilepsy, Jacksonian epilepsy occurs due to spurts of irregular or elevated electrical impulses in the brain that cause neurons to fire at an extremely rapid rate. However, this mild form of epilepsy is unique in that excessive neural activity begins in the general motor cortex region of the brain, producing a contralateral effect. This means that seizure activity occurs on the side of the body that is controlled by the opposite side of the brain in which electrical impulses have momentarily gone awry.

Another unique characteristic of Jacksonian epilepsy is that abnormal neural firing localized to the motor cortex tends to trigger a cascade of partial seizures in associated muscles in a predictable succession. For example, the first sign of seizure may be experienced as twitching or a tingling sensation in a finger, a big toe, or the corner of the mouth, which then advances to the entire hand, foot, or surrounding facial muscles, respectively. This progression of seizure activity is described as a Jacksonian march.

Epilepsy can cause abnormalities in the electrical signals in the brain, so often doctors use an electroencephalogram (EEG) to diagnose it.
Epilepsy can cause abnormalities in the electrical signals in the brain, so often doctors use an electroencephalogram (EEG) to diagnose it.

Jacksonian epilepsy seizures are usually intermittent and of short duration. In fact, it’s not uncommon for symptoms to escape notice altogether. While some seizures may involve pain and other unpleasant symptoms, such as drooling or muscle weakness, others may barely register on a physical level. Likewise, unless there is a real flurry of electrical activity occurring in the brain at once, cognitive and motor functioning may only be interrupted for a brief moment, if at all. Rarely does loss of consciousness occur.

Individuals diagnosed with Jacksonian epilepsy may experience visual or auditory disturbances.
Individuals diagnosed with Jacksonian epilepsy may experience visual or auditory disturbances.

Although simple partial seizures typically experienced with Jacksonian epilepsy are mild in nature and duration, they can produce some unusual sensory phenomena nonetheless. For example, the patient may exhibit a number of automatisms, such as compulsively licking the lips, unconsciously fumbling with clothing, or engaging in rhythmic finger movements. Some people may also experience visual or auditory disturbances, including hallucinations. Others may experience an exaggerated sense of taste or smell. In addition, some patients may not be able to recall the seizure itself or the moments immediately preceding it.

Jacksonian epilepsy seizures are usually intermittent and of short duration.
Jacksonian epilepsy seizures are usually intermittent and of short duration.

Jacksonian epilepsy is rarely treated with medication. In fact, the majority of Jacksonian seizures cease nearly as quickly as they begin without any intervention whatsoever. In addition, partial seizures do not produce extreme and erratic movements that may potentially harm others in close proximity. However, it would be advisable to take reasonable measures to ensure that the patient is not injured during a seizure, if necessary.

Karyn Maier
Karyn Maier

Contributing articles to TheHealthBoard is just one of Karyn’s many professional endeavors. She is also a magazine writer and columnist, mainly for health-related publications, as well as the author of four books. Karyn lives in New York’s Catskill Mountain region and specializes in topics about green living and botanical medicine.

Learn more...
Karyn Maier
Karyn Maier

Contributing articles to TheHealthBoard is just one of Karyn’s many professional endeavors. She is also a magazine writer and columnist, mainly for health-related publications, as well as the author of four books. Karyn lives in New York’s Catskill Mountain region and specializes in topics about green living and botanical medicine.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon162519

My hands and feet start to go numb and get tingly feeling, then my right side of my body starts to jerk, and my face goes numb. It feels like tiny needles are poking my face, hands and feet -- everywhere.

anon127942

My right hand begins to tingle, like a mild electric shock. This sensation slowly moves up my arm reaching my elbow. At that point my left hand begins to have the same sensation slowly moving up my left arm. It feels like my hands and arms are being shocked by electricity.

The strangest of all is at the point when both my hands are tingling, they begin to slowly pull towards each other like two magnets. I fight to keep my hands from touching while opening and closing my hands. When the tingling sensation reaches both shoulders my hands touch and I've been told that it looks like I am trying to pray.

I black out and have a massive seizure. When it stops my mind is unconscious and i am awake. I ask "Who am I? Where am I? What happened?" I am speaking and the people who have seen this tell me, that I am a different person. Unable to remember who and where I am and what has happened to me.

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    • Epilepsy can cause abnormalities in the electrical signals in the brain, so often doctors use an electroencephalogram (EEG) to diagnose it.
      By: Tobilander
      Epilepsy can cause abnormalities in the electrical signals in the brain, so often doctors use an electroencephalogram (EEG) to diagnose it.
    • Individuals diagnosed with Jacksonian epilepsy may experience visual or auditory disturbances.
      By: Monkey Business
      Individuals diagnosed with Jacksonian epilepsy may experience visual or auditory disturbances.
    • Jacksonian epilepsy seizures are usually intermittent and of short duration.
      By: Igor Normann
      Jacksonian epilepsy seizures are usually intermittent and of short duration.
    • Seizures may occur as a result of severe trauma to the brain.
      By: Verity Johnson
      Seizures may occur as a result of severe trauma to the brain.
    • Focal seizures, like those caused by Jacksonian epilepsy, affect only a limited area of the brain.
      By: Mikhail Basov
      Focal seizures, like those caused by Jacksonian epilepsy, affect only a limited area of the brain.
    • Jacksonian epilepsy is characterized by seizures that typically occur in only one side of the body.
      By: JPC-PROD
      Jacksonian epilepsy is characterized by seizures that typically occur in only one side of the body.
    • The first sign of a seizure may be experienced as twitching or a tingling in a finger.
      By: Dmitry
      The first sign of a seizure may be experienced as twitching or a tingling in a finger.