What is photosynthesis epilepsy?
Photosensitive epilepsy is when seizures are triggered by flashing lights or contrasting light and dark patterns. Photosensitive epilepsy is not common but it may be diagnosed when you have an EEG test. Flashing or patterned effects can make people with or without epilepsy feel disorientated, uncomfortable or unwell.
Why do they flash lights during EEG?
In some cases, a strobe light may be used during an EEG test. This aims to detect if this alters the electrical pattern in the brain. (Usually it does not. However, a small number of people have seizures triggered by flickering or strobe lights and so this may help to identify these people.)
Why are epileptics sensitive to light?
How do flashing lights trigger seizures in vulnerable people? RF: Anything that abnormally increases the synchrony of brain cells might provoke seizures in susceptible individuals. Certain patterns of light — flashing bright lights at particular frequencies — synchronize cells within the visual cortex.
Can sunlight cause a seizure?
Natural light, such as sunlight, especially when shimmering off water or flickering through trees or through the slats of window blinds, can also trigger seizures in some people. Stripes of contrasting colors and flashing lights on tops of buses or emergency vehicles are other triggers.
Can you eat or drink before an EEG?
Do not eat or drink anything with caffeine in it for 12 hours before the test. This includes cola, energy drinks, and chocolate. Shampoo your hair and rinse with clear water the evening before or the morning of the test. Do not put any hair conditioner or oil on after you wash your hair.
What can you not do during an EEG?
If the EEG is to be done during sleep, adults may not be allowed to sleep more than 4 or 5 hours the night before the test. Children may not be allowed to sleep for more than 5 to 7 hours the night before. Avoid fasting the night before or the day of the procedure. Low blood sugar may influence the results.
What colors cause seizures?
But some common triggers are:
- Flashing light.
- Bright, contrasting patterns such as white bars against a black background.
- Flashing white light followed by darkness.
- Stimulating images that take up your complete field of vision, such as being very close to a TV screen.
- Certain colors, such as red and blue.
Can cell phones cause seizures?
Too much texting and exposure to computer screens – electronic stress – can set off an epileptic attack. Factors like emotional stress, skipping meals, sleep deprivation, fatigue, smoking, alcohol consumption, etc.
How does an electroencephalogram ( EEG ) test work?
An EEG records the electrical activity of your brain via electrodes affixed to your scalp. EEG results show changes in brain activity that may be useful in diagnosing brain conditions, especially epilepsy and other seizure disorders. An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test that detects electrical activity in your brain using small, metal discs
How is EEG different from positron emission tomography?
EEG does not involve exposure to radioligands, unlike positron emission tomography. ERP studies can be conducted with relatively simple paradigms, compared with IE block-design fMRI studies. Extremely uninvasive, unlike Electrocorticography, which actually requires electrodes to be placed on the surface of the brain.
What kind of slowing does an EEG show?
Focal and Generalized Slowing and Significance. EEG can provide evidence for underlying diffuse or focal cerebral dysfunction through demonstration of background slowing. The two main types of slowing are focal and generalized slowing.
What does an EEG mean in medical terms?
An EEG is a test that detects abnormalities in your brain waves, or in the electrical activity of your brain.