4. Sudden Limb Movements
Sudden limb movements are common during epileptic seizures. These are caused by focal seizures which affect a specific area of the brain – or to be more accurate, the motor cortex. This is the part of the brain that is responsible for controlling our movement and for feeling sensory input from the body.
Therefore, a sudden, localized shot of activity in this part of the brain can cause the limb to jerk uncontrollably. This can be embarrassing for the individual having a seizure.
Note that this can also be a sign of several other conditions. Of course, sudden limb movements are also associated with Tourette’s syndrome for instance. At the same time, this could even be a sign of ‘alien limb syndrome’. Here, the patient will move their limb without being consciously aware of their instructions to do so!