title: Photoconvulsive response and disposition.
abstract: A total of 21 siblings of 17 cases (16 epileptics and one patient with atypical psychosis), in which generalized paroxysmal discharges were provoked either by red-flicker or flickering-pattern and/or pattern, was examined by giving the same stimuli. Similar generalized paroxysmal dischages were provoked in five siblings (23.8%). Of these, two pairs of siblings were identical twins. As a control group, the same EEG activation was carried out in 37 normal healthy 11-year-old children (18 males and 19 females); there were no activation effects. The difference between the two groups was highly signifcant (p less than 0.005). From this study, it was stressed that possible functional vulnerability in the centrencephalon due to disposition might play an important role in the appearance of the GPD's provoked by the visual stimuli as described above. A discussion was also given about the exogenic factor influencing this mechanism.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation