Sensory Stimulation
Seizures may be precipitated by a variety of sensory stimuli, particularly in certain specific epilepsy syndromes. Most common are patients with primary (idiopathic) generalized epilepsies who display photosensitivity. Intermittent photic stimulation from video games, stroboscopic lights, or a variety of alternating dark/light patterns may induce myoclonic jerks or generalized convulsions in these patients. Photosensitive-related seizures are at times self-induced by intellectually disabled patients. Rare reflex epilepsies are associated with seizures precipitated by a variety of complex stimuli such as eating, reading, music, and water baths. Somatosensory- or movement-induced seizures can occur in patients with epilepto-genic zones in perirolandic regions, while ictal episodes associated with any modality of startle can occur with epilepsies due to extensive brain damage.
The vast majority of these patients also have spontaneous seizures, but the possibility that some episodes may be due to specific types of sensory stimulation should be actively pursued through clinical history, because avoidance of offending stimuli offers a nonpharmacologic means to reduce seizure frequency.
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