1. A 14 year old boy is a known epileptic. He is on medicines for his epilepsy. On eliciting a detailed history it is known that he has a typical aura before his epileptic seizure. He hears some funny sounds and sees several colors in front of his eyes and in moments he gets the seizure. The following statement about his aura is false :
   
1. It occurs because a part of his cortex starts having seizure activity but his consciousness is intact.
2. It is also called a simple partial seizure
3. The aura is not a seizure but is a premonitory symptom
4. The nature of the aura depends on the site of origin of the seizure.

Answer: The answer is (c). The aura is actually a partial seizure during which the patient does not lose his or her consciousness. The symptoms of simple partial seizures vary from one patient to another and depend entirely on where the seizure originates in the brain, that is, the part of the cortex that is disrupted at the onset of the seizure.

A seizure that begins in the occipital cortex may result in flashing lights, while a seizure that affects the motor cortex will result in rhythmic jerking movements of the face, arm, or leg on the side of the body opposite to the involved cortex.