A prospective study of loss of consciousness in epilepsy using virtual reality driving simulation and other video games.
Patients with epilepsy are at risk of traffic accidents when they have seizures while driving. However, driving is an essential part of normal daily life in many communities, and depriving patients of driving privileges can have profound consequences for their economic and social well-being. In the current study, we collected ictal performance data from a driving simulator and two other video games in patients undergoing continuous video/EEG monitoring. We captured 22 seizures in 13 patients and found that driving impairment during seizures differed in terms of both magnitude and character, depending on the seizure type. Our study documents the feasibility of a prospective study of driving and other behaviors during seizures through the use of computer-based tasks. This methodology may be applied to further describe differential driving impairment in specific types of seizures and to gain data on anatomical networks disrupted in seizures that impair consciousness and driving safety.
Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8018, USA.
Li
L
Yang
Thomas B
TB
Morland
Kristen
K
Schmits
Elizabeth
E
Rawson
Poojitha
P
Narasimhan
Joshua E
JE
Motelow
Michael J
MJ
Purcaro
Kathy
K
Peng
Saned
S
Raouf
Matthew N
MN
Desalvo
Taemin
T
Oh
Jerome
J
Wilkerson
Jessica
J
Bod
Aditya
A
Srinivasan
Pimen
P
Kurashvili
Joseph
J
Anaya
Peter
P
Manza
Nathan
N
Danielson
Christopher B
CB
Ransom
Linda
L
Huh
Susan
S
Elrich
Jose
J
Padin-Rosado
Yamini
Y
Naidu
Kamil
K
Detyniecki
Hamada
H
Hamid
Pue
P
Farooque
Robert
R
Astur
Bo
B
Xiao
Robert B
RB
Duckrow
Hal
H
Blumenfeld
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D002648:Child; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D018910:Video Games; D014741:Video Recording; D055815:Young Adult