What Happens in the Brain During a Seizure?

🧠Have you ever wondered what’s really going on inside the brain during a seizure? 🤔 Let’s break it down in simple terms.

A seizure happens when there’s a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain. Think of the brain like a city filled with billions of tiny “electrical wires” (neurons). These neurons send signals back and forth to help us move, think, and feel.

Normally, the signals are balanced and well-coordinated — like traffic lights keeping cars moving smoothly. 🚦

But during a seizure, it’s like all the traffic lights turn green at once — and electrical messages start firing out of control. ⚡️

⚡ The Basics

Our brains work because of a balance between two types of brain activity:

Excitatory signals (that turn neurons “on”)

Inhibitory signals (that turn neurons “off”)

In a seizure, this balance breaks down. The excitatory signals go wild, and inhibitory control can’t keep up. The result? A wave of abnormal, synchronized brain activity.

🧩 Different Parts of the Brain, Different Effects

Not every seizure looks the same because it depends where in the brain it starts.

If it starts in the temporal lobe, it might cause strange sensations or déjà vu.

In the frontal lobe, it might cause sudden jerks or movements.

If it spreads through the whole brain, it can cause loss of consciousness or convulsions.

That’s why some seizures are barely noticeable, while others are very dramatic.

🌩️ After the Storm

After a seizure, the brain needs time to reset. This is called the postictal phase — people might feel tired, confused, or have trouble speaking for a while. 💤

It’s like the brain ran a marathon and needs time to cool down.

❤️ The Takeaway

A seizure isn’t a sign of weakness or a mental problem — it’s a temporary electrical storm in the brain. With the right treatment and understanding, most people with epilepsy can live full and active lives. 🌈

🔗 References (AMA Style)

Epilepsy Foundation. What Happens in the Brain During a Seizure? Epilepsy.com. Updated 2024. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://www.epilepsy.com/what-happens-brain-during-seizure

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The Brain Basics: Understanding Seizures and Epilepsy. NIH.gov. Updated March 2024. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/patient-caregiver-education/brain-basics-understanding-seizures-and-epilepsy

Mayo Clinic Staff. Epilepsy: Symptoms and Causes. MayoClinic.org. Updated 2024. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/epilepsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20350093

Fisher RS, van Emde Boas W, Blume W, et al. Epileptic seizures and epilepsy: Definitions proposed by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE). Epilepsia. 2005;46(4):470–472. doi:10.1111/j.0013-9580.2005.66104.x