Are there seizure triggers that are more common in one type of epilepsy vs another type? (by that I mean temporal lobe epilepsy vs frontal lobe)
There are some kinds of seizures that are tied to particular trigger -- for instance, absence seizures can be provoked by hyperventilation -- but for most kinds of seizures the triggers aren't syndrome-specific. The frontal, temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes are quite close, so seizure activity can spread rapidly from one area to another. In addition, just to make things complicated, many people have more than seizure "focus".
Up until about 30 years ago, the assumption was that most seizures originated in the temporal lobes. As the technology has improved, they can now make some distinctions based on the point of origin, but by symptom rather than by trigger.
I've cut and pasted some basic info from another thread about auras and associated brain regions:
1. Auras of all kinds are associated with temporal and parietal-occipital lobe epilepsy.
2. Somatosensory auras (tingling, numbness, electric sensations, etc) that occur on one side of the body tend to originate from the primary somatosensory area (located in the parietal lobe) in the opposite part of the brain. If they originate in the secondary sensory area (also in the parietal lobe but in a different part of it), these auras will show up on the same side of the body as the focus, or on both sides of the body. Somatosensory auras that evolve to include motor symptoms are associated with the perirolandic (mid-temporal) area of the brain. Somatosensory illusions (such as swelling, shrinking, and moving of body parts) tend to be associated with inferior parietal lobe on a person's non-dominant side.
3. Visual auras: Simple visual auras (flashing or moving lights, etc.) can arise from stimulation of the primary visual cortex. Complex visual auras (hallucinations/illusions) are associated with the junction between the temporal and occipital lobes, or the base of the temporal cortex. Blurry vision tends to be related to certain areas of the parietal lobe. One-sided visual auras tend to originate in the occipital lobe of the opposite side of the brain. Visual distortions like after-images, Alice-in-Wonderland syndrome, etc. can be connected to the pathway that connects the thalamus to the visual cortex.
4. Auditory auras: Simple ringing and buzzing = primary auditory cortex. Complex auditory hallucinations (voices, music) are produce by activation of auditory areas of the temporal-occipital cortex.
5. Vertigo/horizon shifts: Usually associated with visual and auditory areas of the temporal-parietal junction.
6. Olfactory auras: Associated with the amygdala, olfactory bulb, and the insular cortex (an area between the temporal and frontal lobes). Related taste auras can be connected to particular areas of the parietal and temporal lobes.
7. Autonomic auras (rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, nausea and other stomach sensations, urinary urges, feelings of warmth or cold): Associated with regions connecting the frontal and temporal lobes, as well as the amygdala and the supplementary sensorimotor area of the brain. Abdominal auras are highly associated with temporal lobe epilepsy, especially when they evolve to include motor symptoms. When they occur with vomiting, they point to the non-dominant temporal lobe. Orgasmic auras are associated with the parasagittal region (near the center top of the brain).
8. Psychic auras (fear, anxiety, elation, sense of doom, deja and jamais vu, flashbacks): Associated with the temporal neocortex. Forced thoughts = frontal lobe. Fear = amygdala, hippocampus, middle frontal region, or temporal neocortex. Pleasant auras = middle lower temporal area. Out-of-body sensations arise from the temporo-parietal junction.
That's a start -- you get the idea. There are additional connections to be found between simple and complex motor seizures and particular regions of the brain. Certain kinds of speech and language disturbances that show up during complex seizures are linked to the non-dominant temporal lobe. Post-seizure aphasia is linked to the dominant temporal lobe. Most of these connections can be helpful when the neurologist is trying narrow down a focus during a pre-surgical evaluation -- for example distinguishing temporal lobe epilepsy (narrow focus) from temporal-plus epilepsies (broader focus).
Frontal lobe seizures are now considered to be relatively common, but they can be much more difficult to recognize than TLE. They can mimic psychiatric disorders, and they are difficult to register on an EEG. For this reason, TLE might be a better bet for your character.