From: Albrecht Heeffer <albrecht.heeffer <at> PANDORA <dot> BE>
Date: 18 sep 2001
Subject: Beware of of myoclonic seizures while playing against SPEAR

Hello,

While browsing a scientific journal database, I hit upon the
following abstract. I thought I should share this with you all,
so you are warned now:

"We report 2 patients who showed myoclonic or generalized tonic-clonic
seizures while playing electronic screen games (ESGs). We examined the
relationship between seizures and ESGs by investigating the clinical
features and by performing electrophysiological examinations in these 2
patients. The precipitating factor in both cases was playing special
category games. Another precipitating factors of one case was playing piano
or pipe, and the other was playing Japanese chess ('shogi'). No
photo-paroxysmal responses were induced in either case by intermittent
photic stimulation, but, paroxysmal discharges clearly increased while
playing special category games. Although many reports have suggested that
photo-sensitivity is the main precipitating factor for seizures induced by
ESGs, the seizures in our two cases were not classified as photo-induced
seizures but rather as 'pure ESGs induced seizures' which may be related to
the cognitive or motion components of the game playing."

Source:
Journal of the Japan Epilepsy Society
Volume 17, Issue 3
1999
Pages 190-199

Albrecht Heeffer