Seized: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy as a Medical, Historical, and Artistic Phenomenon

by Eve LaPlante

Affecting between one and two million Americans, Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) is the result of electrical "storms" in the brain that affect sufferers' psychological states. Symptoms include irregular heartbeats, a compulsive urge to write or draw, sudden changes in sexual interest, hyperreligiosity, and intense emotional experiences. Now LaPlante provides a wealth of information on the disease and its implications for psychiatric disorders. Line drawings.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Medical, Psychology

Hardcover

First published August 1, 1993

About the author

WHO NEEDS A STATUE? is Eve's first book for children. Coauthored by Margy Burns Knight and illustrated by Alix Delinois, it's a picture book about statues of women and people of color.

Eve is also the author of three biographies: MARMEE & LOUISA, about Louisa May Alcott and her mother; AMERICAN JEZEBEL, about the colonial leader Anne Hutchinson; and SALEM WITCH JUDGE, about Samuel Sewall, which won the Massachusetts Book Award. Her first book, SEIZED, is a nonfiction portrait of a common brain disease that can alter personality, illuminating the mind-body problem. She edited MY HEART IS BOUNDLESS, the writings of Abigail May Alcott. Please visit with her online at www.EveLaPlante.com.

Reviews

[Bilen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since learning that Van Gogh had temporal lobe epilepsy, I’ve been intrigued. In med school, seizure lectures barely mention it; maybe one slide in all the classes I’ve attended. And with Dostoyevsky added to the TLE roster, I knew I had to read about it. Seized turned out to be the perfect fit.

I’ll admit, I was skeptical at first since the author isn’t a neuroscientist or a doctor. But my doubts faded within few pages. Her research is solid, and she doesn’t assume readers know everything already. She breaks down the science, adds history, and brings in human experiences. The chapters are a bit lengthy, but they’re so well organized that even with my 3 month pace, I never lost track of her points.

Halfway through, though, it did feel like there was a retrograde diagnosis spree. At first, it was artists and writers, but then it extended to religious figures like Muhammad, Moses, and Paul. It made me wonder: how much religiosity is hyperreligiosity? What truly defines disease? What is “normal” and who gets to decide?

If you love neuroscience, psychology, neurosurgery or if you’re curious about Van Gogh’s wild history; this book is for you.

Could have been 5 stars... but you had to spoil Demons by Dostoyevsky😒

[Kirse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book about Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (my life) and this is the 3rd or 4th time that I have read it.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely, out-dated in terms of treatments available and strides in research, however, the book still mananges to convey the intrigue of TLE's implications on how we see personality, free will and disease. Many, including LaPlante see TLE as a demonstration of the inextricable link between physiology and personality and the disorder as a means to challenge our assumptions of what we can control. TLE is said to have affected artists from Van Gogh, Dostevsky, Poe, and Flaubert to religious leaders and icons such as Muhammad, Joan of Arc and Teresa of Avila. Depending on how you look at it, some would say their creativity and visions were simply a symptom of their seizure disorder and without it maybe they would have led far more uneventful lives. Even more controversial is the idea that given the link between religious experience and epilepsy that some researchers are inclined to believe religion is simply a symptom of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Luckily, the questions are intriguing enough on their own, since at times LaPlante's writing style can be a bit uninspired, which isn't to say I don't appreciate her straight-forward treatment of the subject matter; sometimes there's nothing wrong with content over style. All in all, if you have any interest in the subject this is definitely a worthwhile read.

[Priscilla Benbrook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have TLE. I'm grateful to the author for all of the of "a-ha!" moments that left me feeling validated. However, about midway through it started getting a bit dry, forcing me to push my way through. I had the most difficulty with the chapter on personality/Geschwind's Syndrome, however that could be b/c it did not apply to me as much as the rest of the book. Thank you for all of the validating moments. . .after all these years!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and illuminating read, although a little dated as technologies and understanding about the brain, such as surgery and neuroplasticity, has evolved since this book was written in the early 90s.

[Sheree · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the first half very interesting but the last half went downhill & got to be quite boring. I had to force myself to finish.
I have/had Right Frontal TLE but I also had a lobectomy in 1996. I only found this book in a
facebook brain tumour discussion group. Another member posted about it. I know it was written before my surgery but I would have liked for it to have covered the after effects of a Right Frontal Lobectomy. I only found an article on that on google two years ago. Really interesting to read but some of it just dragged towards the end

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book hoping to learn more about my own affliction, but the real a-ha moment was realizing that I was very probably not the only member of my family so afflicted. There's a lot of history in this book, both about temporal lobe epilepsy, surgical attempts to cure it, and some of the more famous people who have had it. It's not the last word on the subject, but it's certainly a worthwhile resource.

[Flower Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself reading this out loud to people and sharing its title with other epilepsy bloggers. It has a plethora of information about Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. I found the case studies fascinating. This is a great resource for folks who are one step back from epilepsy. I wish I had read this book decades ago.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would say more of a historical reference, as other reviews indicate, but quite interesting.

[Jalyn McNeal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book elucidated a lot of what I always suspected concerning TLE. It is a condition I have, due to scar tissue on the left temporal lobe from a freak accident as a child. I could not have anticipated the chaos and confusion that fateful experience would eventually bring. Very captivating research and case studies, and a refreshing change from all the typical doom and gloom you read about epilepsy. The book’s focus on creativity, spirituality, and traits that make up the controversial Geschwind’s syndrome made for a unique read.

This book brought about a sudden interest in Van Gogh beyond his art, so I sought out his epistolary anthology and was surprised to see how much I related to his feelings, experiences, and ideas..

[Natalie Zavasnik · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very unprofessional, and at times just bizarre. It’s the strangest epilepsy book I’ve ever read. I wouldn’t suggest it to others if you’re trying to learn about your temporal lobe epilepsy condition. It’s just bizarre, I don’t know how else to describe it. I cannot relate to any of the “artistic”, “religious”, and “psychic” phenomenon that the author claims many with TLE have. That may be why I found this book to be so annoying. I have never had any sort of manic religiosity as a result of my TLE so a lot of the book I was just simply unable to relate too.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing book - well-written, accessible, well-researched. Did Van Gogh have temporal lobe epilepsy? Did Edgar Allen Poe? The auther makes a case for both, as well as many other well-known people having the condition. Descriptions of the aura, the episode, the emotions being triggered, explainations of the way the brain works (or doesn't) during a seizure are explored.

[Tweedledum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting study of the history of Temporal lobe epilepsy but would benefit from serious updating. First Published in 1993 but surprisingly
makes no mention of partial temporal lobectomy now called temporal lobe resections which were being offered in UK by then.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Terminal Man (by Michael Critchen) I wanted to know more about temporal lobe epilepsy. Quite intersting

[Albie]

Seized by Eve LaPlante (2000)