Spitting automatism in complex partial seizures: a nondominant temporal localizing sign?
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Published on: July 8, 2025
N F Voss1, K G Davies, F A Boop
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38103, USA.
Purpose:
Spitting as an ictal automatism has been rarely reported. We aimed to establish its potential lateralizing and localizing significance.
Methods:
Review of patients undergoing surgery for intractable epilepsy at two comprehensive epilepsy centers.
Results:
Five patients were found who had spitting as a stereotyped automatism of their complex partial seizures. All had evidence of right temporal ictal onset and underwent resective surgery. Two had tumors; one, a cavernous angioma; one, hippocampal gliosis, and one, hippocampal sclerosis. We found no instances of ictal spitting in patients with left hemisphere onset.
Conclusions:
Spitting as an automatism in complex partial seizures, although uncommon, may be a localizing sign to the nondominant temporal lobe.
