Photosensitive epilepsy and television epilepsy.

Photosensitivity is defined by the appearance of occipital or more diffuse electroencephalographic spikes and waves induced by intermittent light stim ulation (ILS), particular patterns, TV-watching, and video games. Photosens itivity is a genetic characteristic. Only the diffuse spikes and waves indu ced by ILS are correlated with epilepsy. Pure photogenic epilepsy is charac terized by seizures which are only visually induced, usually by watching TV . Video games sometimes add a trigger effect due to slowly moving patterns or intense brightness. Several epileptic syndromes are associated with a ph otosensitivity with or without visually-induced seizures, mainly generalize d idiopathic epilepsy. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevie r SAS.