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Technical Issues for Video Game Developers and Architects to Prevent Photosensitivity

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The Importance of Photosensitivity for Epilepsy

Abstract

Epileptic seizures can be triggered by specific visual stimuli, such as flickering lights and patterns. This is of special interest, considering the multitude of “real life” potential triggers, such as television and video games. The likelihood of television—and video games—induced seizures occurrence relies on several variables. Individual predisposition plays a central role. Monitor characteristics (i.e., flicker frequency, alternation rate, chromatic contrast) and content properties (i.e., brightness, emotional involvement) may also contribute to seizures occurrence in photosensitive subjects. Therefore, recommendations directed to the broadcast and TV industry have been developed in several countries, and some multinational consumer electronics and video game companies are currently financing studies on the risks deriving from visual stimulation. Environmental visual triggers include natural and artificial intermittent lights (i.e., solar rays flickering through tree leaves, discotheque stroboscopes, car headlights), and patterns (i.e., striped surfaces, escalator steps, banner advertisements). However, specific guidelines on preventive measures to limit the risks deriving from photosensitivity are lacking.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Jessie Solodar for helpful advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy

    Edoardo Ferlazzo, Chiara Sueri, Umberto Aguglia & Sara Gasparini

  2. Regional Epilepsy Centre, Great Metropolitan Hospital “Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli”, Reggio Calabria, Italy

    Edoardo Ferlazzo, Chiara Sueri, Umberto Aguglia, Sergio Mercuri & Sara Gasparini

  3. Service de Neurologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud (AP-HP), Paris, France

    Pascal Masnou

  4. Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy

    Edoardo Caminiti

  5. Department of Medical Speciality, Unit of Neurology, PO San Filippo Neri, Rome, Italy

    Marta Piccioli

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  1. Edoardo Ferlazzo
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  2. Chiara Sueri
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  3. Pascal Masnou
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  7. Sara Gasparini
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  8. Marta Piccioli
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Edoardo Ferlazzo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery and Epilepsy, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Dorothee Kasteleijn-Nolst Trenite

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Ferlazzo, E. et al. (2021). Technical Issues for Video Game Developers and Architects to Prevent Photosensitivity. In: Kasteleijn-Nolst Trenite, D. (eds) The Importance of Photosensitivity for Epilepsy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05080-5_33

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05080-5_33

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-05080-5

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