From: Saul May QWEST NET> Date: 18 sep 2001 Subject: Re: Beware of of myoclonic seizures while playing against SPEAR Luckily go, chinese chess, and chess are all exempted. Unless a specific software uses periodic flashes of light, this whole message is absurd. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Albrecht Heeffer" PANDORA BE> To: TECHUNIX TECHNION AC IL> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2001 11:37 AM 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 >