title: [Generalized or focal photosensitive epilepsies].
abstract: Photosensitivity is defined by a pattern of occipital or more diffuse spikes and waves. Several techniques are needed for exploration: intermittent light stimulation (ILS), patterns, TV-screen, video games. Photosensitivity is a genetic characteristic. Only diffuse spikes and waves induced by ILS are correlated with epilepsy. Pure photogenic epilepsy is characterized by seizures induced by visual stimuli alone, usually by TV-screen. Video games may also have a triggering effect due to the slow-moving patterns or intense brightness. Several epileptic syndromes are associated with photosensitivity with or without visually-induced seizures. These syndromes are most often generalized and idiopathic.
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurophysiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Rouen.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parain
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013577:Syndrome; D013690:Television; D018910:Video Games