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. If the person is able to give the physician a good description of this aura, it may provide a clue to the part of the brain where the initial discharges originate. An aura could occur without being followed by a seizure, and in some cases can by itself be called a type of simple partial seizure. Epilepsy is the oldest known brain disorder. It was mentioned more than 2,000 years before Christ.