The brain cells work together, communicating by means of electric signals. Occasionally there is an abnormal electrical discharge from a group of cells, and the result is a seizure. The type of seizure will depend upon the part of the brain where the abnormal electrical discharge arises. The aura may occur far enough in advance to give the person time to avoid possible injury. The type of aura experienced varies from person to person.
Some people feel a change in body temperature, others experience a feeling of tension or anxiety.
In some cases, the epileptic aura will be apparent to the person as a musical sound, a strange taste, or even a particular curious odour. Virtually everyone can have a seizure under the right circumstances. Each of us has a brain seizure threshold which makes us more or less resistant to seizures. Epilepsy can strike anyone at any age. However, most persons who develop seizures during their formative years tend to experience a reduction in the intensity and frequency of their seizures as they grow older.