“Txt”-induced seizures indicating reading epilepsy in the mobile phone age

Video game‐induced reflex seizures via a smartphone

“…Interestingly, a peculiar EEG pattern, the texting rhythm (TR), was activated. TR, first suggested by Watson et al [4] and comprehensively investigated by Tatum et al [9], is a reproducible, stimulus-evoked, frontocentral predominant monomorphic burst of 5-6-Hz theta waves, lasting from 2 to >10 seconds, consistently induced by active text messaging [9,10] or playing video games [11] using a smartphone or other electronic devices, hence the definition "texting and gaming rhythm". TR is very similar to the Cigánek rhythm, a theta-band activity predominantly arousing in the vertex head region during periods of mental concentration or drowsiness [12].…”

“…However, so far, there is only one previously reported case of smartphone‐induced RS. Watson and colleagues [4] described a 44‐year‐old woman experiencing seizures while texting on her mobile phone. She had a history of unrecognized reading epilepsy, and texting which requires a high level of concentration and attention was responsible for seizure precipitation.…”

“…TR, first suggested by Watson et al . [4] and comprehensively investigated by Tatum et al . [9], is a reproducible, stimulus‐evoked, frontocentral predominant monomorphic burst of 5‐6‐Hz theta waves, lasting from 2 to >10 seconds, consistently induced by active text messaging [9, 10] or playing video games [11] using a smartphone or other electronic devices, hence the definition “texting and gaming rhythm”.…”

“…There are several reports of epilepsy induced by cognitive tasks, but few reports of seizures evoked by a specific combination of cognitive and praxis skills via a mobile phone [4]. We describe a boy experiencing RS induced by prolonged exposure to the video game, Cut the rope .…”