Blank Out or Stare Into Space for a Few Seconds
Free Symptom Checker
with Physician-supervised AI

Reviewed By:

Bret Mobley, MD, MS

Bret Mobley, MD, MS (Neuropathology)

Dr. Mobley graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, completing a masters degree in neuroscience between his second and third years of medical school. He trained as a resident in pathology at Stanford University Hospital before joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Tennessee in 2010. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and to Neuropathology Division Director in 2020.

Shohei Harase, MD

Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)

Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.

From our team of 50+ doctors

Content updated on Jan 29, 2024

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How Ubie Can Help You

With an easy 3-min questionnaire, Ubie's AI-powered system will generate a free report on possible causes.

  • Trained and reviewed by 50+ doctors, our AI Symptom Checker utilizes data from 1,500+ medical centers

  • Questions are customized to your situation and symptoms

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Your personal report will tell you

✔︎  When to see a doctor

✔︎  What causes your symptoms

✔︎  Treatment information etc.

People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes

  • During the pause in actions or movements, I was hearing things like sounds / voices / music

  • During the pause in actions or movements, I felt abnormal sensations like being touched

  • During the pause in actions or movements, I was staring fixedly in one direction

  • Movements paused and I started seeing strange things or flashing lights

  • During the pause in actions or movements, there was a taste in my mouth

  • During the pause in actions or movements, I smelled something strange

  • Face turned red or pale and body suddenly stopped what it was doing

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When to see a doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

  • Fainting with loss of consciousness

  • Seizure attack

  • Impossible to walk normally

  • Fine tremor of the fingers

  • Involuntary movements

Possible Causes

Generally, Blank out or stare into space for a few seconds can be related to:

  • Parkinson disease (PD)

    A progressive nervous system disorder affecting movement. It occurs due to nerve cell damage in the brain. The exact cause for PD is unknown. Risk factors include genetics, male gender, old age, and exposure to certain toxins and environmental factors.

Related serious diseases

Sometimes, Blank out or stare into space for a few seconds may be related to these serious diseases:

  • Temporal lobe epilepsy

    Temporal lobe seizures, also known as focal seizures with impaired awareness, originate from the brain's temporal lobe. Some individuals remain conscious during these episodes, while others may appear awake but be unresponsive during more intense seizures. Causes include brain diseases/infections, traumatic brain injuries, strokes, cerebral tumors, and genetic syndromes.

  • Epilepsy
  • Supplementary motor cortex/ frontal lobe epilepsy

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

  • Have you experienced sudden full-body immobility?

  • Do you struggle to focus or feel less aware of your surroundings?

  • Do your arms or legs feel weak?

  • Do you feel any numbness or altered sensation?

  • Do you have headaches or a heavy feeling in your head?

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Find Similar Symptoms

Similar symptoms or complaints

Reviewed By:

Bret Mobley, MD, MS

Bret Mobley, MD, MS (Neuropathology)

Dr. Mobley graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, completing a masters degree in neuroscience between his second and third years of medical school. He trained as a resident in pathology at Stanford University Hospital before joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Tennessee in 2010. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and to Neuropathology Division Director in 2020.

Shohei Harase, MD

Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)

Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.

From our team of 50+ doctors

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