Do video games evoke specific types of epileptic seizures?
We determined whether epileptic clinical manifestations evoked by playing video games (VG) differ from those evoked by intermittent photic stimulation (IPS) or striped patterns (P). We exposed nine children who had TV- and VG-evoked seizures in daily life to 12 VG after standardized photic stimulation and pattern stimulation. Their EEGs were recorded continuously, analyzed, and then correlated with a video of their behavior. Similar types of clinical signs were seen during VG, P, and IPS, but the signs we observed were more subtle during the VG. Eight patients showed a clear lateralization. A new observation was the lowering of the eyelids to a state of half-closed. Our study suggests that the type of visual stimulus provoking a photoparoxysmal response or seizure is not particularly relevant. The children belonged to different epilepsy groups, and our findings add to the discussion on the boundaries of the epilepsy types.
Piccioli
Marta
M
Neurology Division, II Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, and Neurophysiology Section, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Vigevano
Federico
F
Buttinelli
Carla
C
Kasteleijn-Nolst Trenité
Dorothée G A
DG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography; D004585:Electrooculography; D020195:Epilepsy, Reflex / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005143:Eyelids; D005260:Female; D019416:Head Movements; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000523:psychology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012640:Seizures / Q000523:psychology; D018910:Video Games / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology*