Self-induced seizures presumably by peri-orbital somatosensory self-stimulation: A report of two cases

Do reflex seizures and spontaneous seizures form a continuum? – Triggering factors and possible common mechanisms

“…Triggering factors in reflex seizures are most commonly extrinsic sensory stimuli such as flashing lights or startling noises [49]. Other documented triggers of reflex seizures include visual [50], olfactory [51] proprioceptive [52] or somatosensory stimuli [53] as well as thinking [54], music [55,56], eating [57,58], exercise [59], reading [60,61], hot water [62][63][64][65], startle [66] and even rare triggers such as orgasms [67,68] and answering telephones [69] have recently be added to the list. Extrinsic triggers remain the most common type.…”

Stimulus-induced reflex epileptic spasms in 5p− syndrome

“…Distribution of interictal negative spikes and ictal positive waves in the same areas is common to the epileptic spasms in general, the mechanism for the change in polarity remains unclear. Stimulus-induced epileptic spasms are rare even among reflex epilepsies; we found several cases in which spasms were triggered by a somatosensory stimulus [3,4], or by eating [2,5,6,13]. Ictal EEG findings are often described as diffuse high-voltage slow waves; however, some cases presented ictal slow waves with a frontocentral [5], temporal [6] or occipital [4] predominance.…”

“…Stimulus-induced epileptic spasms are rare even among reflex epilepsies; we found several cases in which spasms were triggered by a somatosensory stimulus [3,4], or by eating [2,5,6,13]. Ictal EEG findings are often described as diffuse high-voltage slow waves; however, some cases presented ictal slow waves with a frontocentral [5], temporal [6] or occipital [4] predominance. It is interesting that the ictal positive slow waves at Fp1/Fp2 and T4 areas on rare occasions in patient 1; these may suggest that the eating-induced cortical activation may propagate to other excitable areas from the initially activated T3 area, which then trigger the spasms.…”

“…Reflex spasm is a reflex seizure in which somatosensory stimulus from the trigeminal area or the extremities acts as specific trigger to provoke epileptic spasms [3,4]. Eating behaviour can elicit reflex spasms in rare occasions [5,6].…”

Selbstinduzierte epileptische Anfälle Prävalenz, Ursachen und Behandlung

“…Ein Kleinkind, das durch Betrachtung seines Handrückens in Bauchlage seine Anfälle auslösen konnte, reagierte auf das Überziehen von Handschuhen mit Gereiztheit und vermehrtem Schreien [127]. Dagegen konnte bei einem intelligenzgeminderten Kind mit durch Reiben eines Augenlides selbstinduzierten Anfällen das Tragen einer Schutzbrille in Verbindung mit einer Valproinsäure-Medika-tion sowohl das SIM wie auch spontan auftretende Anfälle verhindern [53].…”