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The Effect of Video‐Game Software in Video‐Game Epilepsy
Author(s) -
Ricci Stefano,
Vigevano Federico
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1999.tb00904.x
Subject(s) - stimulation , video game , behavioral activation , brightness , epilepsy , session (web analytics) , psychology , audiology , neuroscience , medicine , computer science , multimedia , physics , cognition , world wide web , optics
Summary: Purpose: The individual role of video‐game (VG) programs in VG activation is still unclear. Strict relations between VG seizures and photo‐ and pattern sensitivity suggest that programs per se may have a role in seizure activation. Methods: We tested a series of 12 commercially available VG programs in 30 subjects aged 7–28 years; test protocol comprised intermittent photic stimulation (IPS), pattern stimulation, and a game session with 12 programs, each played for 5 min, delivered from a 50‐Hz screen. Results: Activation was observed in 17 subjects; marked differences were observed between different games: two programs activated 13 subjects; one program did not provoke activation. High variability between scenes makes it impossible to define mean brightness for the whole program. Activation correlated with “steady maximal brightness” (SMB) within a program; SMB is defined as the brightness in lux of the brightest scene steadily present in a program. SMB varied between 6 and 305 lux in tested programs. Difference in activation between different games was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Pattern sensitivity is strictly correlated with the probability of VG activation (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates a strong variation in activation between different game programs and a strict relation between VG activation and pattern sensitivity. Programs with SMB >100 lux should be regarded as potentially dangerous; programs with SMB <50 lux may be considered relatively safe.