The Importance of Photosensitivity for Epilepsy

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-li

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2. Has Photosensitivity Changed over the Years?

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Epidemiology of Sensitivity of the Brain to Intermittent Photic Stimulation and Patterns

      • Luiz C. Barreto Silva, Dorothee Kasteleijn-Nolst Trenite, Maria L. G. Manreza, Richard E. Appleton

      Pages 3-25

   3. Provocative Factors

      • Pasquale Striano, Salvatore Striano

      Pages 27-38

   4. The History of Photic Sensitivity in Epilepsy

      • Pierre Genton, Michelle Bureau, Dorothee Kasteleijn-Nolst Trenite

      Pages 39-48

   5. Photosensitivity Within the Classification Systems

      • Richard E. Appleton, Betül Baykan

      Pages 49-61

   6. Genetics of Photosensitivity

      • Ayse D. Elmali, Nerses Bebek

      Pages 63-71

3. Does Photosensitivity Matter; Clinical Relevance?

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 73-73

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   2. Correlation EEG and Clinic

      • Giuseppe Capovilla, Antonio Gambardella

      Pages 75-94

   3. Prognosis

      • Bernhard J. Steinhoff, Anke M. Staack, Christoph Kurth

      Pages 95-102

   4. Epileptic Syndromes with Photosensitivity

      • Silvana Franceschetti, Maurizio Elia

      Pages 103-113

   5. Does Photosensitivity Exist in Focal Epilepsy?

      • Christian Brandt, Fabrice Bartolomei

      Pages 115-119

   6. Does Photosensitivity Exist in Focal Epilepsy?

      • Antonio Martins da Silva

      Pages 121-126

   7. Does Photosensitivity Exist in Focal Epilepsy?

      • Bosanka Jocic-Jakubi

      Pages 127-137

   8. Photosensitivity in Various Disease States

      • Umberto Raucci, Giovanni Di Nardo, Melania Evangelisti, Maria Pia Villa, Pasquale Parisi

      Pages 139-150

   9. What Can We Learn from a Photosensitive Patient?

      • Paul Timmings, Marta Piccioli

      Pages 151-172

4. Abnormal Electroencephalographic Response to Photic Stimulation in Humans and Animals

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 173-173

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   2. How to Interpret Photoparoxysmal EEG Results?

      • Carmen Barba, Renzo Guerrini

      Pages 175-184

   3. Motor Manifestations in Epileptic Photosensitivity: Clinical Features and Pathophysiological Insights

      • Guido Rubboli, Elena Gardella, Stefano Meletti

      Pages 185-197

   4. The Basics: What Constitutes a Photoparoxysmal Response? FMRI, PET, TMS and MEG Studies

      • Matthias Koepp, Lorenzo Caciagli, Edward Kane, Daichi Sone

      Pages 199-205

This book offers a detailed account of all aspects of photosensitive epilepsy, including genetic testing, functional imaging (fMRI, MEG), pharmacological studies, animal studies, classification based on the occurrence of photoparoxysmal responses (PPRs) in different epilepsy syndromes, and the available prevention and treatment options. In addition, the comorbidity of and overlap between migraine and epilepsy are discussed. Informative case histories with EEG examples and a helpful glossary are included.

In epilepsy, the term photosensitivity is used both for epileptic seizures triggered by flashing or flickering light and for epileptiform discharges evoked by intermittent photic stimulation (IPS) during an EEG recording. Most patients with a clear history of visually induced seizures will show epileptiform EEG discharges during IPS (PPRs). As epileptiform discharges can be evoked in photosensitive patients at any time, without triggering seizures, theycan be considered a useful surrogate marker of the necessity and efficacy of epilepsy treatment. This book will serve as an ideal guide to the subject for pediatricians, (pediatric) neurologists, epileptologists, (child) psychiatrists, clinical geneticists, neuropsychologists, neuropharmacologists, occupational therapists, and basic scientists.

• EEG
• migraine
• photosensitivity
• seizures
• video game epilepsy
• visual stimuli
• psychopharmacology

• Department of Neurosurgery and Epilepsy, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

  Dorothee Kasteleijn-Nolst Trenite

Dorothée Kasteleijn-Nolst Trenité, MD, PhD, works in the Department of Medical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands and the Child Neurology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Her work in Utrecht aims to help unravel epilepsy genetics, while in Rome she was given a Marie Curie Chair position within the FP6 EU research program. Dr. Kasteleijn trained extensively in epilepsy at the Epilepsy Centre “Meer en Bosch- de Cruquiushoeve” (now known as SEIN) and in video-EEG and the combination of pharmacology and EEG studies. Dr. Kasteleijn has practiced both child and adult neurology. She has done research on various topics in epilepsy (driving, neuropsychology, and neuropharmacology), but above all has been known for her work on photosensitivity since the publication of her thesis on this topic in 1989. She enjoys international collaboration and has (co-)organized many workshops, founded a European Consortium on Photosensitivity Genetics, and stimulated the development of EU guidelines. She is the author of very many peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and is regularly invited as a keynote speaker all over the world. She is an editor and reviewer for many journals in the field of Neurology. She has had many international PhD and Master’s students. One of her most consistent activities besides lecturing and publishing is raising awareness at the international level of the patient with epilepsy in general and photosensitive epilepsy in particular.

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