An aura is defined as which of the following?

• A. Happens right before a seizure
• B. Occurs after a seizure
• C. A sign of migraines
• D. A type of syncope

Answer: (A)

An aura is a warning sensation that signals the onset of a seizure. It’s a subjective, often focal change that occurs before the seizure starts, reflecting the area of the brain that's about to be irritated. People may experience unusual smells or tastes, visual changes like flashes or blind spots, tingling or numbness, or a sense of déjà vu or fear. This pre-seizure phenomenon is not the seizure itself and not something that happens after the event (the postictal state). While migraines can have an aura, in the seizure context the aura is best understood as the pre-seizure warning experience that precedes the actual seizure.