Reflex seizures …

Epilepsy & Seizures

Updated 12.04.2023
Released 06.21.2004
Expires For CME 12.04.2026

Reflex seizures

Authors: Melita Cacic Hribljan MD PhD, Olalla Urdanibia-Centelles MD PhD

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Editor: Solomon L Moshé MD

Reflex seizures

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Introduction

Overview

Reflex epileptic seizures are seizures elicited by specific extrinsic (light, tactile, acoustic), intrinsic (thinking, reading, emotional), or combined stimuli. They affect patients of all ages and have a 4% to 7% prevalence among patients with epilepsies and up to 21% in those with idiopathic generalized epilepsies (119).

The specific precipitating stimulus and the clinical or EEG response determine reflex epileptic seizures. Seizures may be generalized (absences, myoclonic jerks, or generalized tonic-clonic seizures) or focal (visual, sensorimotor, or limbic). The electroclinical events may only be limited to the stimulus-related receptive brain region, spread to other cortical areas, or become generalized. Flickering lights are the commoner triggering stimuli, and this is particularly relevant to modern life, with ever-increasing numbers of television- and video game-induced seizures. The flickering lights in nightclubs and discotheques are particularly potent. The etiology is diverse, from just a mild genetically determined propensity for reflex seizures in otherwise normal people to severe forms of focal or generalized epilepsies. The role of EEG is fundamental in establishing the precipitating stimulus in reflex epilepsies because it allows subclinical EEG reflex abnormalities, or minor clinical ictal events, to be reproduced on demand by application of the appropriate stimulus. Identifying the offending stimuli has significant clinical implications in managing patients because some may not need anything other than avoiding or modifying the precipitating factors.

Key points

	• Heterogeneous extrinsic and intrinsic stimuli provoke reflex seizures and affect 4% to 7% of all epilepsies.
	• Visually induced seizures are the most common types of reflex seizures.
	• Reflex seizures elicited by reading, thinking, music, eating, hot water, emotions, or movement are less common.
	• Clinically, reflex seizures are focal or generalized (absences, myoclonic jerks, generalized tonic-clonic seizures).
	• Patients may have reflex seizures alone or together with spontaneous ones.
	• Certain epileptic syndromes (juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, Dravet syndrome, progressive myoclonic epilepsies) commonly manifest with reflex epileptic seizures.
	• EEG's role is fundamental in identifying the offending stimuli, with significant clinical and pathophysiological implications.
	• Avoidance or modification of the provocative stimulus is the key point of management, and this may be sufficient for patients with reflex seizures only.
	• Appropriate antiepileptic medication is needed for those with continuing reflex and spontaneous seizures.

Historical note and terminology

Reflex seizures of different types have been known for centuries (09). Recognition of seizures induced by flashing light predates the invention of EEG and the stroboscope and reaches to classical antiquity (122; 83; 62).

The first reference to reflex epilepsy is attributed to Apuleius Lucius (150 AD), a Roman philosopher, in his Apologia and Florida. However, Apuleius does not refer to flickering lights.

Nay, even supposing I had thought it a great achievement to cast an epileptic into a fit, why should I use charms when, as I am told by writers on natural history, the burning of the stone named gagates is an equally sure and easy proof of the disease? For its scent is commonly used as a test of the soundness or infirmity of slaves even in the slave-market. Again, the spinning of a potter's wheel will easily infect a man suffering from this disease with its own giddiness. For the sight of its rotations weakens his already feeble mind, and the potter is far more effective than the magician for casting epileptics into convulsions.

“Gagates” is an old name for the stone “jet” or “black amber,” a carbon fossil that is compact and very light. Jet was known in ancient Egypt, where it was used for making mirrors; in Greece and Rome, it was used for cutting amulets, bracelets, and rings. In Medieval times, jet was popular as a talisman and a medicine for migraines, toothache, stomach pains, and epilepsy, and it reached the height of its popularity during the Victorian period. Also, the potter’s wheel in that time was solid, not spoked, which would be needed to produce intermittent light.

The oldest clear reference to photosensitive epilepsy is by Soranus of Ephesus (2nd century AD), a Greek gynecologist, obstetrician, and pediatrician who wrote On Acute and Chronic Diseases, which contains an excellent chapter on nervous disorders.

The use of flame, or very bright light obtained from flame has an agitating effect. In fact when a case of epilepsy is in its quiescent stage, the ultimate use of light with its sharp penetrating action may cause the recurrence of an attack.

Reflex epilepsy was first documented in animals by the Italian school of neurophysiologists in the 1920s and 1930s (173). In his pioneering studies of “epilepsy from afferent stimuli,” Amantea found that clonus induced by the application of a small disc of blotting paper soaked with strychnine to the sensorimotor cortex of dogs was enhanced by the stimulation of the peripheral area somatotopically related to excited cortex (03; 04). Moreover, when stimulation of the skin persisted, clonus progressed to a generalized tonic-clonic seizure in approximately 25% of animals. Later, strychninization of the visual cortex was used by Clementi, the first to describe experimental light-induced epilepsy in studies of photic stimulation in dogs after strychnine application to the visual cortex (21).

The first medical evidence of photosensitive epilepsy by Gowers (60), and later by Holmes (71), refers to occipital seizures induced by light.

In very rare instances the influence of light seems to excite a fit. I have met with two examples of this. One was a girl of seventeen whose first attack occurred on going into bright sunshine for the first time, after an attack of typhoid fever. The immediate warning of an attack was giddiness and rotation to the left. At any time an attack could be produced by going out suddenly into bright sunshine. If there was no sunshine an attack did not occur.

The other case was that of a man, the warning of whose fits was the appearance before the eyes of “bright blue lights, like stars — always the same”. The warning, and a fit, could be brought on at any time by looking at a bright light, even a bright fire. The relation is, in this case, intelligible, since the discharge apparently commenced in the visual centre (60).

Some men subject to epileptiform attacks commencing with visual phenomena owing to gunshot wounds of the occipital region, have told me that bright lights, cinema exhibitions and other strong retinal stimuli tend to bring on attacks (71).

Holmes attributed this reflex epilepsy to an enhanced excitability of the visual cortex (71).

In 1932, Radovici and associates reported the first case of eyelid myoclonia (often erroneously cited as self-induced epilepsy) with experimental provocation of seizures documented with cine film (135).

AA...age de 20 ans, presente des troubles moteurs sous forme de mouvements involontaires de la tete et des yeux sous l' influence des rayons solaires.

In 1936, Goodkind also detailed various methods used to experimentally induce “myoclonic and epileptic attacks precipitated by bright light” in a photosensitive woman (58).

The patient was placed on a bed in a darkened room in such a position that when the black window shade was raised her face only, was directed towards the early afternoon sunlight, which came through an ordinary wire Window screen. On such exposure of the eyes to the sun, she responded within a few seconds with marked, diffuse, and apparently uncontrollable clonic jactitatory movements. The movements ceased the moment a blindfold was applied, or the black window shade was lowered. She reacted definitely also when either eye was uncovered separately… The patient was also exposed to ultra violet radiation from a quartz mercury vapour lamp, and to bright pocket flash light had little or no effect. A small beam from a carbon arc lamp produced several rapid myoclonic jerks.

With the advent of EEG by Berger in 1929, a new era started for the study of reflex and photosensitive epilepsies (see article on visual-sensitive epilepsies).

ILAE definitions and classification

In recent decades, the ILAE has significantly improved communication among clinicians and in clinical and basic research on epilepsy by establishing standardized classification and terminology for epileptic seizures, epilepsies, and syndromes. This work in progress provided a universal vocabulary and greatly impacted patient care. Much has changed during that time, especially regarding the concept of reflex seizures, reflex epilepsies, and reflex epilepsy syndromes, although these changes have not been straightforward. The Task Force on Classification and Terminology is constantly revising and updating the classifications according to the new knowledge. These classifications particularly affect the position on reflex epilepsies and reflex syndromes.

Reflex seizures were already included in the 1981 ILAE classification of seizures as follows (22):

Repeated epileptic seizures occur under a variety of circumstances:

(1) as fortuitous attacks, coming unexpectedly and without any apparent provocation;

(2) as cyclic attacks, at more or less regular intervals (eg, in relation to the menstrual cycle, or the sleep-waking cycle);

(3) as attacks provoked by: (a) nonsensory factors (fatigue, alcohol, emotion, etc.), or (b) sensory factors, sometimes referred to as “reflex seizures.”

The 1985 ILAE classification of syndromes classified “epilepsies characterized by specific modes of seizure precipitation (reflex epilepsies)” under special syndromes and commended as follows (23):

In simple forms, seizures are precipitated by simple sensory stimuli (eg, light flashes). The intensity of the stimuli is decisive, the latency of the response short (seconds or less), and mental anticipation of stimulus without effect. In complex forms, the triggering mechanisms are elaborate (eg, sight of one’s own hand, listening to a certain piece of music). The specific pattern of the stimulus, not the intensity, is the decisive factor. Latency of response is longer (in the range of minutes), and mental anticipation of stimulus, even in dreams, may be effective.

These properties were first systematically described in the pioneering work of Forster (45).

Epilepsies with specific stimuli were defined for the first time in the 1989 ILAE classification. Precipitating seizures and precipitating factors of “syndromes characterized by seizures with specific modes of precipitation” are detailed in Appendix II as follows (24).

Precipitated seizures are those in which environmental or internal factors consistently precede the attacks and are differentiated from spontaneous epileptic attacks in which precipitating factors cannot be identified. Certain nonspecific factors (eg, sleeplessness, alcohol or drug withdrawal, or hyperventilation) are common precipitators and are not specific modes of seizure precipitation. In certain epileptic syndromes, the seizures clearly may be somewhat more susceptible to nonspecific factors, but this is only occasionally useful in classifying epileptic syndromes. An epilepsy characterized by specific modes of seizure precipitation, however, is one in which a consistent relationship can be recognized between the occurrence of one or more definable nonictal events and subsequent occurrence of a specific stereotyped seizure. Some epilepsies have seizures precipitated by specific sensation or perception (the reflex epilepsies) in which seizures occur in response to discrete or specific stimuli. These stimuli are usually limited in individual patients to a single specific stimulus or a limited number of closely related stimuli. Although the epilepsies which result are usually generalized and of idiopathic nature, certain partial seizures may also occur following acquired lesions, usually involving tactile or proprioceptive stimuli.

According to the ILAE Glossary (15), reflex seizures are

objectively and consistently demonstrated to be evoked by a specific afferent stimulus or by activity of the patient. Afferent stimuli can be: elementary, ie, unstructured (light flashes, startle, a monotone) or elaborate, ie, structured. Activity may be elementary, eg, motor (a movement); or elaborate, eg, cognitive function (reading, chess playing), or both (reading aloud).

In 2001, “A proposed diagnostic scheme for people with epileptic seizures and with epilepsy: report of the ILAE Task Force on Classification and Terminology” was released (35). For the first time, the diagnostic scheme was divided into parts or “axes” organized to facilitate a logical clinical approach in individual patients: axis 1 = ictal phenomenology, axis 2 = seizure type, axis 3 = syndrome, axis 4 = etiology, and axis 5 = impairment. Furthermore, the terminology was again revised.

Precipitating stimuli for reflex seizures were part of the axis 2 seizure type and were listed as shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Precipitating Stimuli and Reflex Seizures and Syndromes Listed in the ILAE Classification Scheme

• Visual stimuli
	- Flickering light--color to be specified when possible - Patterns - Other visual stimuli
• Thinking • Music • Eating • Praxis • Somatosensory • Proprioceptive • Reading • Hot water • Startle

The terms “reflex seizures in generalized epilepsy syndromes” and “reflex seizures in focal epilepsy syndromes” were specifically listed as axis 2 seizure types.

Additionally, the task force defined reflex epilepsy syndrome as a syndrome in which sensory stimuli precipitate all epileptic seizures. Reflex seizures that occur in focal and generalized epilepsy syndromes that are also associated with spontaneous seizures are listed as seizure types. Isolated reflex seizures can occur in situations that do not necessarily require a diagnosis of epilepsy. Seizures precipitated by other special circumstances, such as fever or alcohol withdrawal, are not reflex seizures.

Under axis 3 epilepsy syndromes, only four distinct reflex epilepsies were delineated:

• Idiopathic photosensitive occipital lobe epilepsy
• Other visual sensitive epilepsies
• Primary reading epilepsy
• Startle epilepsy

Besides those, under the umbrella of “conditions with epileptic seizures that do not require a diagnosis of epilepsy,” reflex seizures are determined as a special entity.

The ILAE Classification Core Group report published in 2006 again evaluated the list of epileptic seizure types and epilepsy syndromes approved by the General Assembly in 2001 and considered some possible alternatives (35; 36). Regarding reflex epilepsies, the following is stated:

Reflex epilepsies: Although idiopathic photosensitive occipital lobe epilepsy, primary reading epilepsy, and hot water epilepsy in infants are syndromes, it is unclear whether other reflex epilepsies constitute unique syndromes” (36), leaving again uncertainty how to classify those entities, at that point still listed under Special epilepsy conditions.

In 2014, the ILAE official report titled “A Practical Clinical Definition of Epilepsy” was released (43).

The task force proposed that epilepsy should be considered a disease of the brain defined by any of the following conditions: (1) at least two unprovoked (or reflex) seizures occurring more than 24 hours apart; (2) one unprovoked (or reflex) seizure and a probability of further seizures similar to the general recurrence risk (at least 60%) after two unprovoked seizures, occurring over the next 10 years; (3) diagnosis of an epilepsy syndrome.

The task force elucidated the terms as follows.

	Epilepsy exists in a patient who has had a seizure and whose brain, for whatever reason, demonstrates a pathologic and enduring tendency to have recurrent seizures. This tendency can be imagined as a pathologic lowering of the seizure threshold compared to persons without the condition.
	A seizure that is provoked by a transient factor acting on an otherwise normal brain to temporarily lower the seizure threshold does not count toward a diagnosis of epilepsy. The term “provoked seizure” can be considered as being synonymous with a “reactive seizure” or an “acute symptomatic seizure.”
	The condition of recurrent reflex seizures, for instance, in response to photic stimuli, represents provoked seizures that are defined as epilepsy. Even though the seizures are provoked, the tendency to respond repeatedly to such stimuli with seizures meets the conceptual definition of epilepsy in that reflex epilepsies are associated with an enduring abnormal predisposition to have such seizures.
	A seizure after a concussion, with fever, or in association with alcohol withdrawal would exemplify a provoked seizure that would not lead to a diagnosis of epilepsy. The term “unprovoked” implies absence of a temporary or reversible factor lowering the threshold and producing a seizure at that point in time. Unprovoked is, however, an imprecise term because we can never be sure that there was no provocative factor. Conversely, the identification of a provocative factor does not necessarily contradict the presence of an enduring epileptogenic abnormality. In an individual with an enduring predisposition to have seizures, a borderline provocation might trigger a seizure, whereas in a nonpredisposed individual, it might not. The Definitions Task Force recognizes the imprecise borders of provoked and unprovoked seizures but defers discussion to another venue (42; 42).

The latest official changes in the terminology were presented in 2017. The ILAE Commission for Classification and Terminology published updated position papers on both the seizure types (eg, “An Operational Classification of Seizure Types”) and the classification of epilepsies that year. In those papers, reflex seizures or reflex epilepsy were not considered.

The revised framework for the classification of epilepsies used a multilevel approach, with the third level being epilepsy syndrome. Although many well-recognized syndromes were included in both the 1985 and 1989 proposals, definitions of these epilepsy syndromes have never been formally accepted by the ILAE. Following the above-mentioned publications by the ILAE Commission of Classification and Terminology, the new Nosology and Definitions Task Force was created with the main purpose of providing a means to classify and define epilepsy syndromes. In the last decade, several ILAE reports were published concerning the terminology of epileptic seizures (42; 42), epilepsies (145), and epileptic syndromes (70; 140; 156; 192).

Are epilepsies with reflex seizures distinct epilepsy syndromes? Current ILAE position on the matter.

Epilepsy syndromes have been recognized for more than 100 years (a prototype can be West syndrome) as distinct electroclinical phenotypes with therapeutic and prognostic implications; thus, they were recognized as distinctive conditions long before the first International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Classification of Epilepsies and Epilepsy Syndromes was proposed in 1985. Nonetheless, no formally accepted ILAE classification of epilepsy syndromes has existed.

Epilepsy syndromes have traditionally been grouped according to the age at onset; therefore, special working groups were established with the following divisions: (1) neonatal and infantile-onset, (2) childhood onset, (3) variable age at onset, and (4) idiopathic generalized epilepsies. A syndrome has a "variable age" of onset if it can begin both in those aged 18 years or younger and those aged 19 years and older (ie, in both pediatric and adult patients). In keeping with the 2017 Epilepsy Classification, the ILAE Task Force on Classification and Terminology further subdivided syndromes in each age group into generalized, focal, or generalized and focal epilepsy syndromes based on seizure types and established a separate category for syndromes with developmental or epileptic encephalopathy and syndromes with progressive neurologic deterioration.

Four distinct position papers arose from working groups, including:

	• Idiopathic generalized epilepsies.
	• Epilepsy syndromes with onset in neonates and infants (for the purpose of the proposed classification, infancy was defined as the period up to age 24 months).
	• Epilepsy syndromes with onset in childhood.
	• Epilepsy syndromes with onset at a variable age.

The only publication that particularly addressed reflex epileptic syndromes with the latest definition of reflex seizures comes from the paper describing epilepsy syndromes with onset at variable ages, where reflex seizure is defined as a seizure that is consistently or nearly consistently elicited by a specific stimulus that may be sensory, sensory-motor, or cognitive (140). The stimulus may be "elementary" (eg, light, elimination of visual fixation, touch), "complex" (eg, tooth-brushing, eating), or cognitive (eg, reading, calculating, thinking, listening to music). Such a stimulus will likely elicit a seizure, unlike a stimulus that may facilitate epileptiform abnormality (such as photoparoxysmal responses on EEG) or evoke a seizure but not consistently.

In that paper, only epilepsy with reading-induced seizures classified as combined generalized and focal epilepsy syndrome with polygenic etiology was considered to be a genuine reflex epilepsy syndrome (140). The task force explains not including other well-known entities in the following paragraph:

The task force considered whether disorders that result in seizures with characteristic clinical and EEG features implicating specific focal brain networks should be considered epilepsy syndromes. Although such epilepsies involving specific networks and reflex epilepsies may have a consistent constellation of symptoms and EEG findings, they lack other features that are often seen in syndromes, including specific etiologies, prognoses, and a range of comorbidities. Thus, we have not included these epilepsies as syndromes (140).

The ILAE Task Force on Classification and Terminology considered whether conditions other than epilepsy with reading-induced seizures, in which reflex seizures occur, might be epilepsy syndromes. Although patients with these conditions have in common a specific stimulus triggering their seizures, their electroclinical features, etiologies, and prognosis are diverse. Therefore, the task force decided not to include these as epilepsy syndromes. Photosensitivity is a common feature of many epilepsy syndromes, and the task force concluded that disorders associated with photosensitivity were too diverse, when grouped, to satisfy the criteria for an epilepsy syndrome.

ILAE classification and definition of epilepsy syndromes with onset in neonates and infants included myoclonic epilepsy in infancy as an entity wherein myoclonic seizures may be activated by sudden noise, startle, or touch, and less commonly by photic stimulation. Some authors proposed that the term “reflex myoclonic epilepsy in infancy” should be used if myoclonic seizures are activated by triggering factors (sudden noise or startle), stating that such patients have a slightly earlier age at onset and higher remission rate with the more favorable cognitive outcome; still, the task force did not recognize this entity as a distinct reflex epilepsy syndrome and considered it a subgroup of myoclonic epilepsy in infancy.

The ILAE classification and definition of epilepsy syndromes with onset in childhood recognized photosensitive occipital lobe epilepsy as a distinct reflex syndrome. Children, commonly between 4 and 17 years of age (although age at onset can be between 1 and 50 years), have photic-induced focal seizures involving the occipital lobe. Seizures can be induced by video games or other photic stimuli and watching analog television with slower frequency outputs.

Sartle epilepsy is no longer considered a particular reflex epilepsy syndrome, eg, not specified in any age group as such in the recent publications, and it wasn’t mentioned in the ILAE Commission for Classification and Terminology published in 2017. However, in 2023 it is still listed in the ILAE Online Diagnostic Manual under epilepsy syndromes regardless of age (“any age”).

Startle epilepsy is characterized by seizures that may start in childhood or early adolescence (1 to 16 years). Both sexes are affected. Most patients have an underlying structural brain abnormality with neurologic (eg, hemiplegia) and intellectual disability. Seizures are often difficult to control.

A systematic review of definitions used in the research literature for reflex and nonreflex precipitated seizures has been published (76). Koepp and colleagues provide a comprehensive review of reflex seizure, traits, and epilepsies, focusing on physiology to pathology (90). Hanif and Musick authored a comprehensive review focusing on each subtype and providing updates regarding the current scientific landscape (65).

Three excellent books are exclusively devoted to nearly all aspects of reflex seizures and related epileptic syndromes (Beaumanoir et al 1985; 189; 184).

Clinical manifestations

Presentation and course

Reflex seizures are determined by the specific precipitating stimulus and the clinical EEG response (Tables 1 and 2) (126; 87; 90).

Table 2. Reflex Seizures, Related Reflex Syndromes, and the Precipitating Stimuli

Simple somatosensory stimuli
Exteroceptive somatosensory stimuli
	• Tapping epilepsy and benign childhood epilepsy with somatosensory evoked spikes • Sensory (tactile) evoked idiopathic myoclonic seizures in infancy • Toothbrushing epilepsy
Complex exteroceptive somatosensory stimuli
	• Hot water epilepsy and bathing epilepsy
Simple proprioceptive somatosensory stimuli
	• Seizures induced by movements • Seizures induced by eye closure or eye movements • Paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis • Seizures induced by micturition
Complex proprioceptive stimuli
	• Eating epilepsy
Visual stimuli
Simple visual stimuli
	• Photosensitive epilepsies (including self-induced photosensitive epilepsy) • Pattern-sensitive epilepsies (including self-induced pattern-sensitive epilepsy) • Fixation-off sensitive epilepsies • Scotogenic epilepsy
Complex visual stimuli and language processing (language-induced seizures)
	• Reading epilepsy • Graphogenic epilepsy
Auditory, vestibular, olfactory, and gustatory stimuli
	• Seizures induced by pure sounds or words • Audiogenic seizures • Musicogenic epilepsy (and singing epilepsy) • Telephone-induced seizures • Olfactorhinencephalic epilepsy • Eating epilepsy triggered by tastes • Seizures triggered by vestibular and auditory stimuli
Seizures induced by high-level processes (cognitive, emotional, decision-making tasks, and other complex stimuli)
	• Thinking (noogenic epilepsy) • Praxis-induced seizures • Emotional epilepsies (136) • Startle epilepsy
From (126), courtesy of the author and the publisher.

The concept of precipitating stimulus. Epileptic seizures are categorized as "reactive" when they occur in response to a temporary systemic disruption, like an intercurrent illness, sleep deprivation, or emotional stress. On the other hand, they are termed "reflex" if a specific sensory stimulus consistently triggers them. The stimulus evoking an epileptic seizure is specific for a given patient and may be extrinsic, intrinsic, or both.

Summary of concepts regarding epileptic seizures, stimuli, and responses

The response to the stimulus consists of clinical and EEG manifestations, alone or in combination. EEG activation may be subclinical only, that is, without overt clinical manifestations. Conversely, ictal clinical manifestation...

Extrinsic stimuli can be simple, such as flashes of light, elimination of visual fixation, and tactile stimuli, or complex, such as reading or eating. The latency from the stimulus onset to the clinical or EEG response is typically short (1 to 3 seconds) with simple stimuli and long (usually many minutes) with complex stimuli. Intrinsic stimuli are elementary, such as movements, or elaborate, such as those involving higher brain function, emotions, and cognition (thinking, calculating, music, or decision-making).

Response to the stimulus. The response to the stimulus consists of clinical and EEG manifestations, alone or in combination. EEG activation may be subclinical only, that is, without overt clinical manifestations. Conversely, ictal clinical manifestations may be triggered without conspicuous surface EEG changes.

Reflex seizures may be generalized, such as absences, myoclonic jerks, or generalized tonic-clonic seizures, or they may be focal, such as visual, motor, or sensory. Reflex generalized seizures occur either independently or within the broad framework of certain epileptic syndromes. In response to the same specific stimulus, the same patient may have absences, myoclonic jerks, and GTCS alone or in various combinations. Usually, absences and myoclonic jerks precede the occurrence of GTCS. Patients may have reflex and spontaneous seizures. Myoclonic jerks are by far the most common and manifest in the limbs and trunk or regionally, such as in the jaw muscles (reading epilepsy) or the eyelids (eyelid myoclonia with absences). GTCS may occur ab initio, constituting the first clinical response, or more commonly, they follow a cluster of absences or myoclonic jerks. Focal aware or impaired awareness seizures and focal to bilateral seizures are much less common than primary GTCS. Reflex absence seizures are common, constituting the response to various specific stimuli, such as photic, pattern, fixation-off, proprioceptive, cognitive, emotional, or linguistic. It is recognized that absences are also common in self-induction. Reflex focal seizures are exclusively seen in certain types of reflex focal or lobular epilepsy, such as visual seizures of photosensitive lobe occipital epilepsy or focal impaired awareness temporal lobe seizures of musicogenic epilepsy.

The electroclinical events may be strictly limited to the stimulus-related receptive brain region only (such as photically induced EEG occipital spikes), spread to other cortical areas (such as in photosensitive focal seizures that propagate in extraoccipital regions), or become generalized (eg, in photoparoxysmal responses of idiopathic generalized epilepsy). Further, the electroclinical response to a specific stimulus may correspond to the activation of regions other than the relevant receptive area, such as in primary reading epilepsy, which manifests with jaw myoclonic jerks. Conversely, reading may elicit electroclinical events strictly confined to the brain regions subserving reading, such as alexia associated with focal ictal EEG paroxysms. There is significant variability in interindividual responses to the same stimulus.

Extrinsic and intrinsic seizure triggers and common mechanisms are discussed in a review article (80). Reflex seizures are typically associated with extrinsic sensory triggers; however, intrinsic cognitive or proprioceptive triggers have also been assessed. Emotional stress is the most frequent trigger in self-reported seizure triggers. Identifying a trigger underlying a seizure may be more difficult if it is intrinsic and complex and if triggering mechanisms are multifactorial. The authors concluded, “Since observability of triggers varies and triggers are also found in non-reflex seizures, the present concept of reflex seizures may be questioned.” They suggested “the possibility of a conceptual continuum between reflex and spontaneous seizures rather than a dichotomy” and discussed “evidence to the notion that to some extent most seizures might be triggered.”

The role of EEG is fundamental in establishing the precipitating stimulus in reflex epilepsies. It allows subclinical EEG, or minor clinical ictal events, to be reproduced on demand by application of the appropriate stimulus. However, there are cases in which the stimulus-seizure relationship is difficult to document, as in video game-induced seizures. Only 70% of these patients have EEG confirmation of photosensitivity with photoparoxysmal responses on intermittent photic stimulation; in the other 30%, seizures may be due to a single or a variety of other precipitating or facilitating stimuli. Sleep deprivation, mental concentration, fatigue, excitement, borderline threshold to photosensitivity, fixation-off sensitivity, proprioceptive stimuli (praxis), or more complex visual or auditory stimuli, alone or in combination, are all possibilities that are difficult to document objectively with EEG. There are also epileptic syndromes in which EEG “epileptogenic activity” is consistently elicited by a specific stimulus with no apparent clinical relevance. This is exemplified by certain cases of benign focal childhood seizures in which somatosensory (tapping) or visual (elimination of fixation and central vision) stimuli consistently elicit spike activity, though these children appear to have “unprovoked” seizures, which mainly occur during sleep.

Rolandic epilepsy: tap-indiced spikes seen in a girl in remission

(A) Spontaneous high-amplitude centrotemporal spikes (in fact, these are central spikes) occur independently on the right and left, and are markedly exaggerated during natural sleep. (B) Typical morphology and polarity of centr...
Giant somatosensory spikes evoked by tapping in a girl with EEG centrotemporal spikes but not epileptic seizures

Tapping of the finger, either by the examiner or the patient, consistently evoked giant somatosensory spikes localized in the contralateral sensorimotor brain regions. (Used with permission from: Panayiotopoulos CP, editor. A prac...
Idiopathic childhood occipital epilepsy of Gastaut: fixation-off sensitivity

Occipital paroxysms occur as long as fixation and central vision are eliminated by any means (eyes closed, darkness, +10 spherical lenses, Ganzfeld stimulation). Under these conditions, eye opening cannot inhibit the spikes. Symbo...

The ictal manifestations of reflex seizures do not differ from those of spontaneous seizures of the same type, for example, absence seizures or myoclonic seizures. Thus, reflex seizures are often classified according to the triggering stimulus; this is reflected in an international classification proposal (35). However, some typical clinical associations exist; for example, seizures induced by thinking are almost always myoclonic or clinically GTCS (Tables 3 and 4). It may also be clinically useful to think of precipitating stimuli for reflex seizures grouped according to their association with clinically generalized or bilateral EEG abnormalities or focal EEG abnormalities. However, this distinction does not constitute an element of the currently proposed classification. This is also summarized in Tables 3 and 4.

Table 3. Reflex Seizure Types and Regional or Functional Triggers in Patients with Generalized Epileptiform Activity

Clinical seizure trigger and seizure type	Typical effective stimuli	Region or system subserving the trigger
Photosensitivity: myoclonus, absence, hypermotor seizure	Environmental flicker, screen content	Occipital cortex
Pattern sensitivity: myoclonus, absence, hypermotor seizure	Striped patterns, screen content	Occipital cortex (magnocellular system)
Seizures induced by thinking: myoclonus, absence, hypermotor seizure	Mental arithmetic, block design	Parietal lobe (nondominant or biparietal network for nonverbal visuo-spatial thought)
Praxis induction: myoclonus, rarely absence, hypermotor seizure	Typing, using a knife, action programming	Nondominant or biparietal network for nonverbal visuo-spatial thought and Rolandic areas
Primary reading epilepsy: jaw jerks, typical, myoclonus, absence, hypermotor seizure	Reading	Temporoparietal, predominantly dominant, or bilateral
Modified by the author after (183)

Table 4. Reflex Seizure Types and Regional or Functional Triggers in Patients With Underlying Focal Epilepsy

Clinical trigger and seizure type: all may generalize secondarily	Typical effective stimuli	Region or system subserving the trigger
Predominantly nonlimbic:
Induction by somatosensory stimuli, “rub epilepsy”: tonic motor, usually with initial localized aura	Touching, rubbing, or pricking skin, often with a well-defined trigger zone, typically unilateral	Primary or secondary somatosensory cortex
Startle epilepsy: sudden startle, altered tone, supplementary motor seizure, may fall	Startle	Gross or subtle perirolandic lesions
Seizures with eating, tooth-brushing: aura, focal motor, or dialeptic seizure	Eating, tooth-brushing, and other oral sensory stimuli	Perisylvian lesions
Seizures with proprioceptive stimuli: typically focal motor	Walking, movement of limbs	Postcentral or paracentral lesions
Often limbic:
Seizures with eating: focal dialeptic	Eating, taste of food	Temporal + frontal limbic
Seizures induced by experiential thought: focal dialeptic, focal motor	Recall of trigger thought	Temporal limbic
Musicogenic seizures: focal dialeptic, focal motor	Music	Temporal limbic and nonlimbic

Idiopathic generalized epilepsy and isolated reflex epilpsy. Idiopathic generalized epilepsies collectively constitute 25% of all epilepsy syndromes (112). The four distinct idiopathic generalized epilepsies include childhood absence epilepsy, juvenile absence epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures alone (70). In this context, this holds significant importance when discussing reflex seizures, as more than 21% of individuals diagnosed with idiopathic generalized epilepsies will also encounter concurrent reflex seizures (119). Generalized reflex seizures, in fact, commonly manifest within the framework of idiopathic generalized epilepsies. Consequently, viewing these cases as focal reflex seizure instances with rapid secondary generalization stemming from focal or multifocal hyperexcitable cortical regions is prudent. This dynamic facilitates generalized propagation through cortico-cortical or cortico-reticular pathways.

In rare instances, isolated or predominantly focal reflex epilepsy can manifest, including photosensitive occipital lobe epilepsy, primary reading epilepsy, and startle epilepsy. Photosensitive occipital lobe epilepsy, for instance, is characterized by seizures exclusively triggered by visual stimuli, coupled with interictal occipital epileptiform abnormalities facilitated by eye closure, intermittent photic stimulation, and normal physical examinations (156). Nonetheless, it has become increasingly apparent that a subset of patients may also experience infrequent myoclonic or generalized tonic-clonic seizures, particularly with prolonged stimulation. This observation suggests this clinical entity might be a continuum between focal and generalized events.

Extrinsic reflex epilepsy

Extrinsic stimulus-induced reflex epileptic activity, often abbreviated as extrinsic reflex epilepsy, pertains to reflex seizures triggered by various specific exogenous stimuli that impact diverse sensory-perceptual systems. Extrinsic stimuli, in this context, are sensory stimuli originating from the external environment. These stimuli encompass a range of sensory modalities, including visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, and exteroceptive inputs.

Visually induced seizures and epilepsies. Visually induced seizures and epilepsies are detailed in the MedLink Neurology articles on Visual-sensitive epilepsies, Photosensitive occipital lobe epilepsy, and Eyelid myoclonia with or without absences. Briefly, visually induced seizures and epilepsies are the most common among reflex epilepsies and compromise 5% of reflex seizures (87). Thus, this variant of reflex seizures stands as the most prevalent among all its forms, exhibiting a prevalence rate ranging from 2% to 10% within the broader population of individuals diagnosed with epilepsy. Notably, among 7- to 19-year-olds, the incidence is more than five times as common. Additionally, it is noteworthy that this particular form of reflex seizures is approximately twice as prevalent among females compared to males (66).

Visual seizures are triggered by the physical characteristics of the visual stimuli and not by their cognitive effects. Photosensitivity and pattern sensitivity are the two main categories, which frequently overlap.

Photosensitive epilepsy (self-induced)

(First sequence) Imitation of self-induction by repetitive opening and closing of the eyes in front of a bright light source. (Second sequence) Video-EEG demonstrates spontaneous symptoms resembling eyelid myoclonia with absenc...

As previously mentioned, numerous idiopathic generalized epilepsies commonly manifest photosensitivity as a reflex trait. For instance, various studies have reported an incidence of photosensitivity in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy of up to 90%. On the other hand, childhood absence epilepsy frequently exhibits photosensitivity as a photoparoxysmal response in 15% to 21%, without clinical effect (70). Additionally, several other syndromes are frequently linked with photosensitivity. Notable examples include Dravet syndrome, with an estimated incidence of photosensitivity in approximately 70% of cases, and Unverricht-Lundborg disease, where photosensitivity is reported in as many as 90% of affected individuals. Moreover, photosensitivity is also commonly observed in other progressive myoclonic epilepsies, such as those associated with neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis featuring CLN6 mutations and Lafora disease (119).

“Fixation-off sensitivity” is a term coined by Panayiotopoulos to denote the forms of epilepsy or EEG abnormalities elicited by eliminating central vision and fixation. Eliminating central vision and fixation is a specific precipitating stimulus, which, even in the presence of light, induces high-amplitude occipital or generalized paroxysmal discharges (123; 124; 125).

Idiopathic childhood occipital epilepsy of Gastaut: fixation-off sensitivity

Occipital paroxysms occur as long as fixation and central vision are eliminated by any means (eyes closed, darkness, +10 spherical lenses, Ganzfeld stimulation). Under these conditions, eye opening cannot inhibit the spikes. Symbo...

Photosensitive occipital lobe epilepsy. Photosensitivity is the distinguishing feature of photosensitive occipital lobe epilepsy and is much more frequent than originally appreciated after using intermittent photic stimulation in EEG testing. Photosensitivity may occur alone or progress to symptoms from other brain locations and GTCS. Extraoccipital focal seizures from the onset are exceptional. In this scenario, the primary reflex trait is video games rather than television. The symptomatology typically includes focal nonmotor seizures characterized by symptoms such as blurred vision, visual hallucinations, temporary blindness, head and eye deviation, and ictal vomiting.

Television-induced seizures. TV-induced seizures are the prevailing external stimulus responsible for provoking photosensitive seizures, and they represent the most prevalent form of photosensitive epilepsy. These seizures occur twice as frequently in females and primarily affect children between the ages of 10 and 12 years. Remarkably, around 10% of those affected by TV-induced seizures have a familial background of such seizures. Notably, 10% of individuals experiencing TV-induced seizures exhibit a phenomenon known as "compulsive attraction," wherein they are irresistibly drawn to the TV screen, almost like being pulled by a magnetic force, before progressing into a GTCS (119).

Video game-induced seizures. This phenomenon is more prevalent among boys and tends to affect individuals between the ages of 7 and 19 years. Notably, video game-induced seizures can occur not only in response to traditional TV monitors but also in association with handheld LCD displays, which suggests that the triggers for such seizures are not limited solely to television screens (125). Photosensitivity plays a dominant role in the induction of seizures triggered by video games, and it's worth noting that up to 70% of individuals experiencing video game-induced seizures exhibit genuine photosensitivity.

Seizures induced by reading and language. Epilepsy with reading-induced seizures has been recognized as a distinct reflex epilepsy syndrome in the ILAE Task Force on Nosology and Definitions paper that updated diagnostic criteria for epilepsy syndromes with variable age of onset (140). It is a rare combined generalized and focal epilepsy syndrome with age at onset in the late teens. This syndrome is characterized by reflex seizures triggered mainly by reading, but in some patients, it can also be triggered by other tasks related to language (language-induced seizures), such as talking or even writing. Spontaneous seizures are not expected. Seizures induced by reading are detailed in the article on epilepsy with reading-induced seizures.

Briefly, seizures induced by reading primarily manifest with low-amplitude myoclonic jerks, mainly affecting the masticatory, oral, and perioral muscles, clinically seen as jaw myoclonus. The reading time to seizure onset varies, and if the patient continues to read, progression to generalized tonic-clonic seizure may occur. Interictal EEG shows normal background with rare interictal discharges (133). Generalized ictal discharges are seen in approximately 75% of cases, whereas 25% show bilateral asymmetric or unilateral discharge lateralizing to the dominant hemisphere in all patients. When focal, discharges are temporo-parietal. Ictal EEG during myoclonic seizures a show short run of spikes or sharp waves, which may be of low voltage and, therefore, missed.

Many patients with reading epilepsy have similar seizures elicited by other linguistic tasks (95). Thus, reading epilepsy may be considered as a variety of more broadly defined reflex epilepsy involving a network for language (language-induced epilepsy) (95). Language-induced epilepsy encompasses seizure precipitation by speaking, reading, and writing (53). In an individual patient, the trigger may be very specific, like reading a specific language or having seizures only when reading silently and not aloud. If writing is a precipitating stimulus, hand myoclonic jerks are seen.

The seizures may be similar to those of primary reading epilepsy, and some patients report only a single effective trigger (eg, recitation alone) (68). Activation by reading and by other language tasks in the same patient can also occur in symptomatic epilepsies, as illustrated by video documentation by Canevini and colleagues (18). Language-induced epilepsy is not yet sufficiently defined to warrant classification as a separate syndrome independent of reading epilepsy. Reported cases are more heterogeneous than those of primary reading epilepsy. The prognosis is considered to be favorable with a good response to antiseizure medications. Only a minority have shown remission with age as the stimulus so important as reading can restrict daily functioning significantly.

Seizures induced by auditory stimuli and musicogenic epilepsy. The position statement by the ILAE Task Force on Nosology and Definitions recognized another distinct epilepsy syndrome with a variable age of onset, in which some patients have reflex seizures precipitated by specific sounds (eg, a ringing telephone) or speech beside the spontaneous seizures (140; 17; 14). Formerly known as autosomal dominant lateral temporal lobe epilepsy or autosomal dominant partial epilepsy with auditory features, it now bears the name epilepsy with auditory features. It is a focal epilepsy syndrome with onset in previously healthy patients, typically between 10 and 30 years of age. Focal aware sensory (auditory) or cognitive seizures (receptive aphasia) are mandatory for the diagnosis. Auditory sensory symptoms are simple, unformed sounds like buzzing or ringing or less commonly complex sounds like voices or songs. Auditory distortions can also occur (alteration in the sound volume). Ictal receptive aphasia manifests as the inability to understand spoken language during a focal aware seizure. Rarely do patients report vision alteration, vertigo, or infrequent focal impaired awareness seizures or focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures. EEG is either normal or shows focal epileptiform discharges in temporal regions. Seizure outcomes range from mild seizures with early remission to drug-resistant epilepsy, especially in patients with structural lesions.

About 30% to 50% of people with autosomal dominant epilepsy with auditory features have LGI1 (leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1) gene mutations (17; 111).

Brodtkorb reported a 23-year-old patient who had speech-induced seizures caused by an LGI1 mutation (17). He experienced short episodes of sensory aphasia in situations when he was suddenly verbally addressed. Voices became distorted, and he could not comprehend despite hearing words. During a video-EEG recording, the patient was suddenly asked for the names of his siblings. He answered but lost understanding of the further conversation and described how syllables floated together with an echoing character. With a versive movement to the right, another GTCS occurred. In the EEG, rhythmic 6-Hz activity built up in the frontotemporal areas, starting on the left side with bilateral and posterior spreading. Postictal slowing was symmetrical, and no aphasia was noted on awakening.

Additionally, an LGI1 mutation has also been reported in a patient with seizures triggered by answering the telephone (110). Telephone-induced seizures were reported in three patients who had onset during early adulthood of focal impaired awareness seizures and secondarily generalized seizures exclusively triggered by telephone answering (109). The seizures were stereotyped, with subjective auditory or vertiginous auras and an inability to speak or understand spoken voices. In one patient, a telephone-induced seizure arising from the dominant temporal lobe was recorded with video EEG. In the interictal EEGs, temporal abnormalities were detected in all cases. The patients had normal neurologic examinations and normal brain imaging.

Seizures induced by sounds or words (audiogenic epilepsy) are rare (30). Musicogenic epilepsy is the most common and best-studied form (189; 51; 86; 177; 153; 188; 132; 101; 108; 32; 38).

Musicogenic epilepsy is characterized by seizures induced by hearing certain sounds, typically music (26). Seizures have also been reported while a subject is exposed to the musical trigger during sleep or merely thinking about it. The effective stimulus can be stereotyped for each patient and at times is exquisitely specific but with no clear common pattern between patients. An affective component of the stimulus is evident in some patients. The seizures are of focal aware or impaired awareness type with interictal and ictal epileptiform activity recorded from temporal regions (147), usually the right. Most patients also have spontaneous seizures and reflex seizures that often begin over a year after the onset of spontaneous seizures (178). Musicogenic seizures have also been reported in infancy (99).

In a retrospective study of 1510 patients with epilepsy, three were found to have musicogenic epilepsy (0.0019%) (38). Significantly, two of these patients had autoimmune epilepsy with antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase. Both patients had normal MRIs, but FDG-PET showed medial temporal lobe hypometabolism (unilateral or bilateral) in both and also in the insula in one of them. Video-EEG documented the onset of seizures from the right temporal lobe. The incidence of musicogenic epilepsy in patients with epilepsy and anti-GAD antibodies was 2 of 22 (9%). The authors concluded that the determination of anti-GAD antibodies should be carried out in all cases of musicogenic epilepsy, even those with normal structural MRI.

Seizures induced by eating (eating epilepsy). Seizures induced by eating are characterized by seizures closely related to one or several aspects of eating (139; 92). They are infrequent, with an estimated prevalence ranging from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 2,000 among individuals with epilepsy (113). Seizures usually occur in the early phase of eating (generally within the first 5 minutes) or within the first 10 minutes after eating. Rarely, patients have seizures at the sight, smell, or thought of food (34; 159); others may have them immediately after a heavy meal, suggesting gastric distension as a trigger (49). Seizures induced by eating are typically focal motor seizures, with or without auras or automatisms of the temporolimbic type. They are almost always related to symptomatic epilepsy, although familial occurrence has also been reported (186). Two patients with left temporal lobe epilepsy were confirmed to have ictal asystole and eating epilepsy by video-EEG monitoring (07). Rarely, eating-induced epileptic spasms may occur (114). A boy carrying a maternally inherited MECP2 duplication had video-EEG confirmation of a cluster of eating-induced spasms, the only epileptic manifestation of the patient (27). Seizures induced by eating are usually associated with localized or regional epileptiform activity, either from temporolimbic structures or suprasylvian regions associated with larger lesions. Generalized EEG epileptiform activity is rare.

Rémillard and associates suggested that patients with temporolimbic seizures activated by eating have fewer spontaneous seizures and are more likely to have such episodes from the onset of their epilepsy than are patients with extralimbic, usually suprasylvian, seizure onset who have less constant activation by eating (139). Patients with suprasylvian seizure onset usually have more obvious extratemporal structural lesions and possible activation by specific thalamocortical afferents. They may also have seizures with other forms of buccal stimulation, such as toothbrushing or kissing. A prevalence of approximately 1 per 1000 to 2000 epileptic patients has been reported (173; 113; 92). An unusually high occurrence of patients with eating epilepsy have been reported in two different areas of Sri Lanka by different investigators (149; 150). This could be related to genetic or ethnic factors and the bulky meals rich in carbohydrates consumed by the patients (150).

von Stulpnagel and colleagues reported eight patients with a SYNGAP1 mutation and chewing- or eating-induced reflex seizures as a new phenotype and compared them to other patients with eating epilepsy and genetic mutations (175). They presented the clinical and anamnestic features and retrospective analysis of video-EEG data of a 4-year-old index patient with SYNGAP1 mutation and chewing- or eating-induced seizures. Clinical and anamnestic features and home videos of seven additional patients (four female; ages 4 to 14 years) with SYNGAP1 mutation and eating-induced reflex seizures were compared. All reflex seizures of the index patient showed similar focal ictal EEG patterns with high amplitude and irregular 3 Hz spike-waves with initiation from left temporo-occipital, right temporo-occipital, or bi-occipital or temporo-occipital regions, lasting 1 to 5 seconds. Eyelid myoclonia was the most common seizure type in all eight patients, and it was typically initiated by eating or other simple orofacial stimuli. In the index patient, eye closure preceded eating-induced eyelid myoclonia in most seizures (175). Ictal vomiting is a rare symptom of seizures induced by eating (163).

Orgasm-induced seizures. Also known as ictal orgasms, orgasm-induced seizures are exceedingly rare and predominantly affect women (81). These seizures are typically characterized by focal onset impaired awareness and predominantly originate from the right hemisphere. Most affected individuals experience both spontaneous and orgasm-induced seizures as part of localization-related epilepsy. These post-orgasmic seizures can manifest anywhere from minutes to hours after orgasm. Delayed seizures following climax are not associated with hyperventilation. Instead, it is believed that orgasm acts as a trigger for previously sensitized neurons within a network distributed across various regions of the brain, ultimately resulting in seizures (119).

Somatosensory stimulation-induced seizures. Seizures induced by exteroceptive somatosensory stimulation are typically triggered by touching, tapping, rubbing, or pricking body parts (104) or tooth-brushing (31). A localized or regional hypersensitive trigger zone can often be defined within the trigeminal and upper extremity somatosensory regions. The seizures are usually focal onset aware and begin with sensory symptoms (aura), followed by a sensory Jacksonian seizure with tonic motor manifestations. Subsequent generalizations may occur, but they are infrequent. Consciousness is preserved, at least at the onset.

Seizures induced by tapping, often by a single touch (“tap epilepsy”), manifest with brief reflex generalized myoclonic attacks associated with bilateral spike and wave EEG discharges (28; 169). These typically occur in otherwise normal infants and toddlers. Also, tapping is a typical and common stimulus to elicit giant somatosensory evoked responses (without clinical response) in EEG in children with SELECTs and other self-limited childhood focal epilepsies (165; 97; 127).

Rolandic epilepsy: tap-indiced spikes seen in a girl in remission

(A) Spontaneous high-amplitude centrotemporal spikes (in fact, these are central spikes) occur independently on the right and left, and are markedly exaggerated during natural sleep. (B) Typical morphology and polarity of centr...
Giant somatosensory spikes evoked by tapping in a girl with EEG centrotemporal spikes but not epileptic seizures

Tapping of the finger, either by the examiner or the patient, consistently evoked giant somatosensory spikes localized in the contralateral sensorimotor brain regions. (Used with permission from: Panayiotopoulos CP, editor. A prac...

Seizures elicited by tapping or rubbing have been reported in some patients with cortical lesions localized in postrolandic and other regions (161; 93; 75), though normal brain MRI is more likely (85). Sala-Padro and colleagues have reported four adult patients with touch-induced seizures (142). They all had focal motor seizures after the stimuli, without impairment of awareness. Seizures were refractory to antiepileptic medication. Such seizures originated due to epileptic foci in the fronto-central regions associated with peri-central lesions on MRI.

Toothbrushing-induced seizures are a rare form of reflex seizures in patients with or without lesions (72; 118; 96; 20; 31; 67). Small lesions of the primary somatosensory cortex may be seen.

Stimulation of the external ear conduct (auricular epilepsy) may also elicit seizures (144). Compulsive somatosensory self-stimulation-inducing epileptic seizures have been documented in severe cases of infantile spasms (64; 164).

Diaper-changing-induced reflex seizures, although rare, are considered a possible variant of sensory reflex seizures that represent a subtype of “rub-evoked reflex epilepsy.” A case of diaper-changing-induced seizures has been described in a patient with CDKL5-related epilepsy (155) and in Dravet syndrome.

Hot water epilepsy. Hot water epilepsy, also known as “water immersion epilepsy” or “bathing epilepsy,” is detailed in the recently updated article on hot water epilepsy. It is not recognized as a distinct syndrome in the ILAE Classification papers published in 2022, although previously has been perceived by the ILAE Task Force on Classification and Terminology core group as a new reflex epileptic syndrome with a relative confidence level of 2 (Table 1) (36).

Historically it was characterized by epileptic seizures elicited by pouring hot water over the head (138; 10; 126; 106; 107; 171). Two types of hot water epilepsies exist: (1) the classical hot water epilepsy seen in older children and adults and (2) a variant seen in infants now known as bathing epilepsy. Hot water-induced types of reflex seizures are among the most common reflex seizures in the pediatric population and are considered part of the same spectrum, even though clear clinical and genetic differences are recognized for each type.

Classical hot water epilepsy is known as a condition where seizures are induced by hot water (40°C to 50°C) being poured over the head and face in patients with otherwise normal development. It shows a clustering of cases in South India, although it is also reported from different countries worldwide. A significant proportion of these patients also have spontaneous seizures without a reflex component. Even though almost 20% of Indian patients have at least one family member affected by hot water epilepsy, the exact genetic mechanism is not known. The interictal EEG is usually normal; however, epileptiform abnormalities over the temporal region are observed in 20% to 25% of patients (185).

Another variant is seen in infants precipitated by immersion of the lower trunk in water with a temperature closer to body temperature (around 37.5°C). The elicited seizures have mainly autonomic features like apnea, pallor, and staring. It is worth mentioning that hot water epilepsy in infancy has been shown to have a strong clinical prediction for the future development of Dravet syndrome. Recent evidence suggests that bathing epilepsy is genetically distinct from the “adult” type, being caused mainly by synapsin 1 mutations.

The natural course is usually favorable as a majority of patients outgrow their epilepsy. In cases of severe early onset concomitant febrile seizures with reflex bathing seizures, the prognosis might be unfavorable if it turns out to be Dravet syndrome.

Appavu and associates described two boys with a unique form of bathing epilepsy characterized by the act of exiting water (06). The first patient had a positive family history, with a brother with frontal lobe epilepsy. He underwent an evaluation in the epilepsy monitoring unit, in which a reflex seizure was recorded while exiting the shower. This seizure was characterized by an ictal onset in the left frontal lobe and subsequent generalization. The second patient initially had nonreflex seizures from the left temporal lobe and developed reflex seizures on exiting water. For both patients, the precipitation of seizures was independent of water or environmental temperature, exposure of specific body parts, or duration of water immersion. Both children experienced a sensation of coldness, followed by convulsive or atonic activity.

Self-induced seizures. Self-induction has been well established as a mode of precipitation, but prevalence is disputed, ranging from a small number to as high as 30% of photosensitive patients. Self-induction is employed not only by intellectual disability, as it was initially reported, but also by patients of normal or above-average intelligence. Self-induction is more common in patients with photosensitive epilepsy but is also observed in other types of RE, such as hot water epilepsy. One well-known example is the “sunflower syndrome,” in which individuals gaze at a strong light source, often the sun, and deliberately move their outstretched fingers in front of their eyes. This activity generates optimal intermittent photic stimulation while also fostering a degree of pattern sensitivity. Additional self-induction practices encompass repetitive eye-opening and closing, precise head movements to induce a "rolling" effect on a TV screen, and rapid channel switching, among other actions. Patients get immense pleasure from induced seizures, which are usually absence seizures and less often myoclonic jerks. GTCS may occur due to this self-induced intermittent photic stimulation, which is probably an unwanted effect. Sexual pleasure and masturbation are exceptional. “It gives me the same pleasure as when I get a most precious Christmas gift” and “I love it, a release of tension” are common descriptions by the patients. Spontaneous seizures are not pleasurable, which indicates that the ictal enjoyment is due to the seizure-seeking behavior and maneuvers employed for self-stimulation.

Photosensitive epilepsy (self-induced)

Intrinsic reflex epilepsy

Propioception-induced seizures. Simple proprioceptive stimuli (movement, including eye closure, micturition, and defecation) have been well-described as precipitants of reflex epileptic seizures. However, genuine movement-induced (kinesigenic) seizures elicited by active or passive movements are rare (29; 131; 46; 100; 170; 13; 73; 160; 40). These should be meticulously differentiated from non-epileptic paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (88; 154).

Seizure-inducing movements can involve one particular joint or a group of joints as well as the eyes, gait (gait epilepsy) (79), and, exceptionally, simple ideation of the movement. Primarily, seizures are brief, focal onset aware, and sensorimotor. This particular form manifests as a temporary occurrence in individuals with nonketotic hyperglycemia, often triggered by changes in posture or movement, and does not recur when the metabolic state improves, including insulin therapy (81). Moreover, they are described in patients with focal brain lesions in the parietal and sensorimotor cortex or supplementary motor area.

A patient with focal cortical dysplasia involving the left motor cortex had both spontaneous and arm-wrestling movement-induced, with right upper limb sensorimotor seizures with Jacksonian progression (160). Electroclinical seizure recording showed a progressive increase of spiking over the left central area, followed by recruiting rhythm and right tonic seizure. The patient became almost seizure-free after resection, without neurologic sequelae (160).

A case with video-EEG presentation was of a 78-year-old man who presented with abnormal right leg movements 2 days after mild traumatic brain injury (40). He displayed clonic movements of the right leg after a few seconds of voluntary movement of the same leg, lasting about 20 seconds. Brain MRI showed a small subarachnoid hemorrhage in the cerebral convexities. EEG at rest was normal, but demonstrated robust epileptiform discharges in the left frontotemporal region figure after voluntary right leg movements.

Exceptional are seizures induced by micturition or defecation (157; 187; 55; 137; 02; 69; 176; 151; 141; 172). Seizures induced by defecation originate from the left temporal lobe (141).

Seizures induced by thinking. Seizures induced by thinking (“noogenic epilepsy”) are a rare form of reflex epilepsy and most frequently affect male adolescents (185). They occur in response to nonverbal higher cortical function and have been reported with a variety of stimuli, including arithmetic, thinking, drawing complex figures, playing cards or chess, decision-making, and solving a Rubik’s cube (180; 59; 05). Among the most consistent triggers of reflex seizures are mathematics or spatial tasks, affecting 72% of these patients (65). These seizures do not typically appear to be activated by reading, writing, or explicitly verbal tasks, but about 80% of patients are found to have more than one effective trigger. Unlike primary reading epilepsy, patients with noogenic epilepsy have spontaneous seizures.

The reflex and spontaneous seizures include bilateral myoclonus, absences, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Often, these begin after a period of myoclonic jerks. Still, myoclonic jerks occurred without a following GTCS in 76% of patients reviewed by Andermann and colleagues, and 60% of patients had absence seizures often associated with myoclonic jerks (05). In 68% of patients, EEG will demonstrate generalized epileptic discharges as bilateral synchronous multiple spikes and waves. Myoclonic jerks and absence seizures may be ignored or unreported until a generalized tonic-clonic seizure occurs and the patient comes to medical attention.

Seizures induced by thinking usually occur in the context of generalized epilepsy. Focal aware seizures and clear focal EEG abnormalities have been reported, mostly right frontal or parietal regions, but are the exception (116). The essential component in the seizure trigger appears to be nonverbal thought, the processing of numeric or spatial information, and possibly sequential decision-making. One third of the patients also show photoparoxysmal discharges but not clinical photosensitivity. Studies provide more detail on the cerebral representation of calculation and spatial thought and document a bilateral functional network activated by such tasks (158). The parieto-occipital lobes might be partially involved in the neuronal network responsible for card game-induced reflex epilepsy (128). Self-induced neogenic seizures have also been reported (94).

Seizures induced by acute emotional states are relatively uncommon (136). These are usually limbic seizures with psychic aura originating in networks involved in the emotional process, with temporal lobe epilepsy being the most common, although without clear laterality or gender predominance (136). Sellal and colleagues documented a highly unusual form of epilepsy referred to as "Pinocchio syndrome," where seizures are provoked when the patient attempts to tell a lie (148).

Praxis-induced reflex seizures. The term “praxis-induction” was introduced by Japanese authors who described seizures triggered by thinking about “complicated spatial tasks in a sequential fashion, making decisions, and practically responding by using a part of the body” (77). Writing is reported to be a major precipitating factor, although reading is not (78). Hand or finger movements without “action-programming activity” (defined as “higher mental activity requiring hand movement” and apparently synonymous with praxis) are not effective triggers. Reflex upper-limb myoclonus occurs and may spread. This pattern occurs almost exclusively in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. It does not seem prominent in patients with thinking-induced seizures who do not also have prominent myoclonic reflex attacks. In its milder or most restricted forms, such as the morning myoclonic jerk of the arm manipulating a utensil, this phenomenon resembles cortical reflex myoclonus as part of a “continuum of epileptic activity centered on the sensorimotor cortex” (170). The motor component, imagined or performed, is crucial in praxis-induction. In contrast, seizures induced by thinking are activated by tasks such as purely mental calculation of orally presented arithmetic tasks with no motor component in either the stimulus or the response. Like praxis-induced seizures involving the limbs, perioral reflex myoclonias with activation of the EEG, originally believed to be significantly associated with reading epilepsy, are now recognized as typical of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (105). A patient presenting with praxis-induced myoclonic epilepsy at a late age has been reported with video-EEG documentation (56).

Startle-induced seizures and startle epilepsy. Briefly, startle epilepsy is characterized by seizures triggered by unexpected sudden sensory stimuli, usually sound or touch. In contrast to a pure sound, a sudden noise proves to be the most potent auditory stimulus. Most patients have intractable seizures, in the context of static encephalopathy, and neurologic deficits. Imaging is usually abnormal. The seizures exhibit characteristic features, typically beginning as focal onset aware seizures lasting less than 30 seconds. An initial startle response is followed by axial (central body) unilateral or bilateral tonic posturing, frequently causing falls, which can often be traumatic. Concurrent symptoms are frequently accompanied by associated autonomic phenomena, automatisms, laughter, and jerks. Less commonly, startle-induced seizures may be atonic or myoclonic, particularly in patients with cerebral anoxia. Seizures are frequent, occurring many times daily, and sometimes progressing to status epilepticus. The interictal EEG provides insights into the underlying structural brain lesion, revealing diffuse or focal abnormalities. On the other hand, the ictal EEG typically shows an initial vertex discharge, succeeded by a widespread decrease in electrical activity or the presence of low-voltage rhythmic activity at around 10 Hz (65). The prognosis is often poor, particularly for those with severe preexisting encephalopathies. Differentiation between startle-induced seizures and exaggerated startle responses can be challenging. Startle epilepsy should be differentiated from other nonepileptic disorders with abnormal responses to startling events and, mainly, hyperekplexia. Differentiation between seizures and exaggerated startle responses can be challenging. Startle epilepsy is often resistant to medical treatment. Epilepsy surgery may be beneficial to those with focal etiology of seizures.

Prognosis and complications

The prognosis for these different seizure types depends on the underlying disorder, the degree to which stimuli can be modified or avoided, or the effect of treatment. Some patients may have only one or a few reflex seizures that can be entirely avoidable (eg, video game-induced seizures). In others, reflex seizures are controlled by avoiding precipitating factors or appropriate prophylactic medication (eg, reading epilepsy). Other reflex seizures may be lifelong and intractable (eg, progressive myoclonic epilepsies and most startle-induced seizures).

Complications are similar to those for other similar spontaneous seizures.

Biological basis

Localization

Researchers have investigated localization in reflex epilepsy to determine how distinct triggers correspond to specific brain areas or networks. Understanding these associations sheds light on the underlying neural mechanisms and helps identify the neuroanatomical substrates involved in different reflex seizures. Tables 3 and 4 delineate regionalizations and reflex seizures’ regional or functional triggers. The spatial distribution of physiological networks involved aligns with the posterior-to-anterior trajectory of brain development, indicating age-related alterations in brain excitability (90).

Photosensitive and pattern-sensitive reflex epilepsy involves the primary visual occipital cortex (122; 12). Subsequent studies utilizing functional MRI and magnetoencephalography have further supported the presence of regional occipital cortical hyperexcitability, distinctive regional activations, and abnormal neuronal synchronization in individuals exhibiting photosensitivity (39).

Somatosensory stimulation-induced seizures suggest a supplementary motor area seizure. Patients with tooth-brushing epilepsy have demonstrated hypoperfusion in the right mesial temporal lobe along with right hippocampal atrophy (185). Proprioceptive-induced seizures classically involve the rolandic sensorimotor area of the hemisphere contralateral to the clinical seizure onset (37).

Complex calculations have been described as the main triggers of thinking epilepsy. Simple calculations recruit only the dominant inferior frontal lobe and angular gyrus, whereas complex calculations recruit bilateral parietal lobes (81).

Reading-induced focal seizures with alexia seem to originate from the dominant supramarginal and angular gyrus (95; 50). Conversely, in primary reading epilepsy, localization may be in deep cortical and subcortical structures, particularly the left frontal piriform cortex (168). Musicogenic seizures commonly originate from the right temporal lobe (178; 52; 51).

Etiology and pathogenesis

Reflex seizures occur in epilepsies of varied etiologies, mainly genetic and structural. Traditionally, reflex seizures have been associated with idiopathic generalized epileptic syndromes where polygenic or multifactorial inheritance is suspected. Only a few causative single-gene variants have been identified in humans. Due to the improvement and availability of genetic testing, monogenic causes are increasingly recognized, and the data show that the genetic background of reflex seizures is highly heterogeneous (81; 82).

Italiano and associates published a comprehensive review of genetic determinants' role in humans and animal models of reflex seizures and epilepsies (82). The main finding was that autosomal dominant inheritance with reduced penetrance was proven in several families with photosensitivity. Molecular genetic studies on EEG photoparoxysmal response identified putative loci on chromosomes 6, 7, 13, and 16 that seem to correlate with peculiar seizure phenotypes. Autosomal dominant inheritance with incomplete penetrance overlapping with a genetic background for idiopathic generalized epilepsy was also proposed for some families with primary reading epilepsy.

Musicogenic seizures usually occur in patients with focal symptomatic, mostly temporal lobe epilepsies. Occasionally, this has been reported in patients with Dravet syndrome caused by SCN1A gene mutations. Additionally, approximately 15% of patients with Dravet syndrome have photosensitivity, and photic stimuli can provoke different types of seizures. It is worth mentioning that bathing epilepsy has also been reported in patients with Dravet syndrome. Seizures triggered by hot water baths in infants have a strong association and can even be considered a clinical predictor for future Dravet syndrome. Therefore, early genetic testing for SNC1A mutations is relevant in such a clinical context.

Classical hot water epilepsy, known as a condition where seizures are induced by hot water being poured over the head and face in patients with otherwise normal development, shows a clustering of cases in South India. However, cases have been reported from different countries worldwide.

Even though almost 20% of Indian patients have at least one family member affected by hot water epilepsy, the exact genetic mechanism is not known, and it is probably genetically heterogeneous. Autosomal dominant pedigree with reduced penetrance allowed mapping of two loci at chromosomes 4q24-q28 and 10q21.3-q22.3.

Bathing epilepsy is deemed a self-limiting type of hot water epilepsy with onset in infants. Recent evidence suggests that bathing epilepsy is genetically distinct from the “adult” type. It seems to be caused mainly by synapsin 1 (SYN1) mutations (01), affecting the function of this important regulatory protein in the process of neuronal exocytosis.

A four-generation family is described in the first original description of the SYN1-associated phenotype. Seven of the 10 affected male family members were of normal intelligence and had epilepsy, whereas others had various combinations of epilepsy, learning difficulties, and aggressive behavior. One of these patients with normal intelligence had episodes of “blackouts,” all occurring while in the bath. He even died in the bath, aged only 27 years (48). Later studies have proven the role of the SYN1 gene in patients with bathing epilepsy.

A distinct genetic epileptic syndrome was documented in a French-Canadian family where Q555X mutation of synapsin 1 (SYN1) gene on chromosome Xp11-q21. The syndrome was called “X-linked focal epilepsy with reflex bathing seizures.” Authors considered this phenotype to be distinctive from previously described hot water epilepsy cases due to the mode of inheritance that was clearly recessive X-linked as only male members developed epilepsy. Additionally, reflex bathing seizures also occurred out of the infancy age range; contact with water was common to all subjects, but the importance of water temperature varied, and some had seizures triggered by wiping the face with a cold wet cloth or washing the hands with tepid water. And finally, patients presented a spectrum of neuropsychological abnormalities such as dyslexia and pervasive developmental disorder (117).

CDKL5-developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, also known as CDKL5 deficiency disorder, results from pathogenic variants in the cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 gene. It is an important cause of very early onset epilepsy, severe developmental delay, and postnatal microcephaly. Several seizure types have been associated, among them reflex bathing seizures (129). In the same entity, diaper-changing-induced seizures have been reported (155). Interestingly, diaper-changing-induced seizures have also previously been reported in Dravet syndrome (162), where bathing reflex seizures could be provoked as well. The occurrence of this somatosensory stimulus might be a part of the same complex seizure-triggering system in line with well-documented seizures induced by nail clipping in one of the patients with X-linked focal epilepsy with reflex bathing seizures in a French-Canadian family (117).

Epilepsy with auditory features, formerly known as autosomal dominant lateral temporal lobe epilepsy or autosomal dominant partial epilepsy with auditory features, is a focal epilepsy syndrome that presents with focal aware seizures with auditory symptoms or receptive aphasia and rare focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures (140). Besides spontaneous seizures, some patients have reflex seizures precipitated by specific sounds (eg, a ringing telephone). About 30% to 50% of people with autosomal dominant epilepsy with auditory features have LGI1 (leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1) gene mutations, whereas some have pathogenic variants in the RELN (reelin) gene.

Eating-induced seizures usually occur in the setting of symptomatic epilepsies, primarily affecting the temporal and perisylvian regions, as reported in approximately 30% of cases. Malformations of cortical development were the most frequently described causes, followed by tumors. The association between eating-induced seizures and several genetic syndromes has been reported for some chromosomal conditions like Cri-du-chat or 5p- syndrome caused by deletion of the end of the short (p) arm of chromosome 5 as well as in disorders of MeCP2 dosage. Loss-of-function mutations in the gene MECP2 (methyl-CpG-binding protein 2), which encodes the MeCP2 protein, result in Rett syndrome, whereas gain-of-function duplications of MECP2 result in MECP2 duplication syndrome, and both genetic defects might be associated with a peculiar epileptogenic susceptibility of the fronto-opercular cortex to eating, resulting in eating-induced seizures. Recently, it has been shown that 25% of patients with SYNGAP1-related developmental and epileptic encephalopathy have seizures triggered by eating. The SYNGAP1 gene encodes the synaptic Ras-GTPase-activating protein 1, mainly expressed in the synapses of excitatory neurons. Loss of function mutations result in developmental delay, intellectual disability, and epilepsy with generalized seizures consisting of eyelid myoclonia with absences, myoclonic-atonic seizures, and reflex seizures triggered by eating or eye closure (174). Eyelid myoclonia triggered by mastication is a common seizure type in patients with SYNGAP1 mutations (175). Furthermore, genetic susceptibility in seizures triggered by eating is indicative as a large proportion of patients have been reported in South Asia, especially from Sri Lanka, suggesting either genetic or ethnic factors, such as food or eating habits.

Startle-induced seizures usually occur in patients with structural etiology like static pre- or perinatal insults resulting in severe neurologic deficits (perinatal hypoxic injury or malformations of cortical development, such as schizencephaly). They have been reported in chromosomal disorders, such as trisomy 21, and in the setting of inherited lysosomal storage diseases like GM1 or GM2 gangliosidosis or infantile Krabbe disease. Recently, monogenic causes like KCNQ2 mutations have been described (74).

Pathophysiology

Two types of study in animal models of reflex seizures are: (1) the study of irritative cortical lesions and their activation by specific stimuli and (2) the study of naturally occurring reflex epilepsies or seizures induced by specific sensory stimulation in genetically predisposed animals. The first approach has been used by Italian physiologists since 1920 (see the Historical note and nomenclature section). The second experimental approach, the study of naturally occurring or induced reflex seizures in genetically susceptible animals, has been pursued in various animal models, including primates (115).

Little is known concerning the pathophysiology of human photosensitivity to intermittent photic stimulation. However, there is a considerable body of evidence concerning pattern sensitivity, and it may be presumed that similar mechanisms are involved (12; 190; 39). They can also be applied to other reflex epilepsies and seizures and may represent a common mechanism of reflex seizure genesis. The initiation of photic-induced seizures hinges on exciting a specific and crucial mass of neurons within the occipital cortex. This is further aided by the intrinsic hyperexcitability of the visual cortex, which promotes extensive synchronization of neuronal activity (90; 119). Other factors may have the opposite effect, reducing the amount of involved cortex and the likelihood of a seizure.

The model of human pattern-sensitive epilepsy, reviewed by Radhakrishnan and colleagues (134), is of particular interest because it shows that generalized clinical events and generalized or bilateral EEG abnormalities can be activated by a specific functional stimulation with a known localization in the case of pattern-sensitive epilepsy involving hyperexcitability of primary visual cortex (Binnie and Wilkins 1999; 146). In this context of triggering generalized seizures, when a specific stimulus reaches the striate and parastriate areas, activates a critical mass of cortical tissue, and promotes synchronization of neuronal activity, it initiates a localized epileptic discharge. Subsequently, this discharge rapidly spreads via the cortico-reticular or cortico-cortical pathways, starting from the parieto-occipital regions and culminating in a generalized epileptic discharge. This sequence of events is particularly likely to occur when there is a concomitant presence of more widespread cortical hyperexcitability, as indicated by certain evoked potential studies. Yet, the underlying morphological and functional foundations for the propagation of seizures from posterior to anterior regions during photoparoxysmal responses and photic-induced seizures with motor elements remain less clear and more uncertain. Seizures induced by thinking and by “praxis” epilepsy appear to follow this model. Like these, the dissociation between drawing and writing-induced seizures discussed by Kho and colleagues suggests the existence of verbal and nonverbal hyperexcitable networks to induce these attacks (89). Photosensitive occipital focal seizures also occur in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (63), and motor activity can elicit seizures in nearly 50% of patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (103), an “idiopathic generalized epilepsy.” The pattern of praxis induction fits well with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, in which there is apparent regional hyperexcitability of the sensorimotor cortex within an apparently generalized epileptic disorder (183) and possibly relevant morphologic abnormalities involving the motor system as well (182). These and other observations in both reflex and spontaneous epileptogenesis suggest that the postulated diffuse cortical hyperexcitability in idiopathic generalized epilepsy is not necessarily uniform; specific activities can activate specific cortical systems, or functional networks spread over several cortical regions in one or both hemispheres and produce focal or regional discharges, or focal aware seizures, which may generalize. This does not invalidate a diagnosis of underlying generalized epilepsy but shows that the biological substrate of generalized epilepsy can be complex (39). As predicted by Clementi’s model, focal or regional brain lesions can also be associated with reflex seizure triggered by appropriate stimuli. Such patients may also have spontaneous seizures, and many have neurologic deficits and abnormal imaging. Before MRI, many malformations of cortical development were undetected, but these can be responsible for reflex seizures, especially drop attacks or axial myoclonus. Selected cases may be treated surgically (121).

The pathophysiology of reading epilepsy may be different in those with the jaw myoclonic type than in those with the focal seizures of alexia (95; 08; 50; Op de et al 2011; 168). The focal type with alexia is a pure reflex focal epilepsy with the stimulus (reading) directly acting on and disturbing the localized brain region, subserving reading in the dominant occipitotemporal junction, which coordinates information that is gathered from visual and auditory processing and assigns meaning to the reading. These include the dominant supramarginal gyrus, which seems to be involved in the phonological and articulatory processing of words, and the angular gyrus, which, together with the posterior cingulate gyrus, seems more involved in semantic processing. Elevating the complexity of epileptogenic stimuli could potentially facilitate this recruitment. By augmenting the difficulty, intricacy, emotional engagement, or duration of tasks, it becomes possible to heighten the likelihood of electrographic or clinical activation in individuals with reading epilepsy. This implies that maximal neuronal interaction plays a role in at least facilitating the processs. This recruitment process could encompass the involvement and interaction of multiple cortical and subcortical structures triggered by reading or the emotional content of the reading material. These structures might include the mesiotemporal lobe, amygdala, and limbic regions. It's important to note that this recruitment relies on both pre-existing and reorganized functional connections between different brain regions, and it's not limited to physically adjacent brain sites or established neuronal pathways. This multi-site recruitment mechanism aligns with the concept of variable hyperexcitability existing at various cortical and subcortical levels, thereby allowing for a range of potential combinations of asymmetrical or symmetrical, generalized, regional, and focal epileptic discharges (91; 90).

Proprioceptive-induced seizures classically involve the rolandic sensorimotor area of the hemisphere contralateral to the clinical seizure onset. Maximum EEG electronegativity appears to be at the central vertex electrode in a published EEG record of seizures induced by walking (79). The supplementary motor area may also be involved. This localization has been confirmed by imaging and intensive monitoring. Cerebral lesions are often evident and may have occurred well before the onset of seizures. Human proprioceptive-induced seizures are seen in some acute encephalopathies, especially nonketotic hyperglycemia, in which seizures are induced by active or passive limb movement and, more rarely, with conjugate gaze (16; 33); an associated neurologic deficit related to a remote lesion may be transiently unmasked during the period of seizures (16).

Moreover, proprioceptive-induced seizures have been studied with a chronic alumina focus in one foot area of the monkey brain. Reflex seizures were elicited by stimuli that produced proprioceptive input to the hyperexcitable cortical area. Seizures could not be elicited after curarization (19). Transcortical reflex loops appear to be involved in generating the proprioceptive-induced motor response in the cat with a penicillin focus (54).

Many patients with eating epilepsy have seizures that can be activated only by obvious combinations of stimuli (41), and these patterns can vary from one patient to another. Alerting stimuli have been reported to abolish attacks (47), providing at least circumstantial evidence for the involvement of an increasing cortical mass and of subcortical influences that may promote or inhibit seizure occurrence in some cases of reflex epilepsy. It appears that the localization of seizure onset and the nature of the seizure trigger are related in these attacks. Seizures in patients with suprasylvian lesions may be triggered by other oral activities and may represent a particularly noticeable type of seizure induced by proprioceptive or somatosensory stimulation. They may be different from patients with temporolimbic-onset seizures, in whom taste and autonomic afferents may play a more important role and in some of whom seizures may also be related to emotional or autonomic components of eating or to gastric distension, with possible participation of limbic and autonomic afferents. In a case of eating epilepsy studied using simultaneous EEG-fMRI, seizures were triggered by the sight or smell of food, and frontotemporal discharges were noted on video-EEG (143). Similarly, frontotemporoparietal involvement was reported on SPECT and EEG-fMRI. In certain disorders like infantile epileptic encephalopathy, focal symptomatic epilepsy, or MECP2 duplication syndrome, eating can potentially induce periodic spasms. This may occur by stimulating the frontal-opercular region, which, in turn, triggers activity in the brainstem or the regions responsible for initiating seizures (119).

The pathophysiology of musicogenic epilepsy was initially attributed to conditioned response (152), but this view was not accepted (45). Chronic temporal lobe depth electrode studies in epileptic subjects without musicogenic epilepsy suggest different lateralizations for different components of a musical stimulus (179). Creutzfeldt and Ojemann confirmed that musical stimuli might have widespread effects on neuronal activity in human temporal lobes extending well beyond the somewhat restricted primary auditory area (25; 98), that different components of music have different effects, possibly with specialized lateralization and localization, and that the effects of music are different from those of speech. PET studies in patients and others show predominant involvement of right hemisphere structures in networks involved in processing musical information, extending well beyond the classical auditory cortex of Heschl’s gyrus (84). Studies in subjects with musical hallucinations show that the primary auditory cortex is not “a sufficient substrate for higher-order pattern perception” (61).

The primate auditory cortex is considered to consist of a central core of the primary cortex that receives thalamic projections and is linked to several “belt” areas. The primary cortex has multiple tonotopically organized sections and is especially sensitive to pure tones. Belt regions are more susceptible to complex stimuli and less tonotopically organized (84). Zifkin and Zatorre also note that more complex musical processing tasks activate more cortical and subcortical territory bilaterally but with right hemisphere predominance (191). Zatorre and coworkers reviewed auditory-motor interactions in music perception and production (188). Different musical stimuli could stimulate hyperexcitable cortical areas to different degrees and extents in patients sensitive to musical triggers. Gloor suggested that responses to limbic stimulation in epileptic subjects depend on widespread neuronal matrices linked through connections that have become strengthened through repeated use, which is interesting considering the delay from seizure onset to the development of sensitivity to music (57). The heterogeneity of musicogenic epilepsy and the several different temporal lobe foci reported to be responsible for these seizures can perhaps be understood as representing sensitivities to different parts of a musical or auditory stimulus (167). The finding of LGI1 mutations in lateral temporal epilepsy triggered by auditory stimulation and telephone-induced reflex seizures is just one of many genetic-clinical-electrographic patterns that may exist. In a patient who underwent a stereo-electroencephalography study with implantation focused on investigating the right temporo-perisylvian regions, the stereo-electroencephalography findings clearly identified the anteromesial temporal regions as the origin of the seizures, with no indication of their spreading to nearby or distant cortical areas.

Surgical resection of the right temporal anteromesial region has been performed, resulting in the patient remaining seizure-free 24 months after the procedure (130). However, neuropathological examination did not yield substantial insights. The stereo-electroencephalography data strongly supported the hypothesis that a temporo-mesial emotional-mnesic network, activated by specific music containing an affective component, played a pivotal role in the patient's condition.

Italiano and colleagues reviewed available knowledge about reflex seizures with particular emphasis on the difference between "generalized" reflex seizures induced by visual stimuli, thinking, praxis, and language tasks and "focal" seizures induced by startle, eating, music, hot water, somatosensory stimuli, and orgasm (81). Evidence from animal, clinical, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging studies supports the concept that "generalized" reflex seizures, usually occurring in the setting of idiopathic generalized epilepsy, should be considered focal seizures with quick secondary generalization through corticoreticular or cortico-cortical pathways.

Differential diagnosis

Confusing conditions

The initial step in the differential diagnosis process entails discriminating genuine epileptic seizures from nonepileptic paroxysmal episodes (126).

Eyelid myoclonia induced by eye closure and jaw jerks of primary reading epilepsy are often misdiagnosed as ticks. Reflex and spontaneous visual seizures are commonly misdiagnosed as migraine with visual aura. Conversely, paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia is often misdiagnosed as movement-induced epileptic seizures. Hyperekplexia is often misdiagnosed as tap-induced seizures.

Neonate with hyperekplexia and typical startle response to tactile stimulation

Fifteen-day-old neonate with typical startle response to tactile stimuli in the face and mainly the nose. Please note that marked generalized startle response (typical of hyperekplexia) is triggered each time the face and, main...

The association of epileptic seizures with a particular triggering/precipitating stimulus and other facilitating factors should be thoroughly established. For example, eye closures inducing eyelid myoclonia should not be equated with attempts for self-induction, which is a common error.

Associated and underlying disorders

Seizures triggered by visual stimuli are seen in several epilepsy syndromes (Tables 1 and 2). These include recognized syndromes of reflex epilepsy, such as photosensitive occipital lobe epilepsy, primary reading epilepsy, and hot water epilepsy; unrecognized syndromes of reflex epilepsy, such as epilepsy with eyelid myoclonia; syndromes commonly manifesting with reflex epileptic seizures, such as juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, Dravet syndrome, and progressive myoclonus epilepsies; and reflex seizures from focal structural lesions.

Diagnostic workup

Diagnostic workup is required for patients with spontaneous seizures of the same type. Properly gathered clinical information is fundamental in establishing with reasonable confidence whether the seizures are truly of epileptic origin, their type(s) (focal or generalized), and the underlying syndrome or cause. Subsequently, EEG and brain imaging are the most valuable tests to confirm diagnosis and cause.

In reflex epileptic seizures, the discovery of the triggering stimulus is often, but not always, straightforward. Photosensitivity is commonly revealed in routine EEG with appropriate intermittent photic stimulation.

Photosensitive epilepsy (self-induced)

However, EEG photoparoxysmal responses should not be equated with clinical photosensitivity, though this is often the case. As with all other aspects of EEG, intermittent photic stimulation-induced abnormalities should be meticulously correlated with the clinical manifestations; one complements the other. Furthermore, routine EEG does not usually examine other modes of reflex-seizure precipitation. These, such as reading, somatosensory, and others, should be properly applied and tested to delineate the trigger when the clinical evidence points to them (165; 97; 127).

Rolandic epilepsy: tap-indiced spikes seen in a girl in remission

(A) Spontaneous high-amplitude centrotemporal spikes (in fact, these are central spikes) occur independently on the right and left, and are markedly exaggerated during natural sleep. (B) Typical morphology and polarity of centr...
Idiopathic childhood occipital epilepsy of Gastaut: fixation-off sensitivity

Occipital paroxysms occur as long as fixation and central vision are eliminated by any means (eyes closed, darkness, +10 spherical lenses, Ganzfeld stimulation). Under these conditions, eye opening cannot inhibit the spikes. Symbo...
Absence seizure patterns (self-induced)

Generalized 3-Hz spike or polyspike wave associated with clinical absence in two patients with self-induced seizures (Left) Absence seizure induced by intermittent photic stimulation. This patient had spontaneous, photically in...
Differentiation of eye-closure from eyes-closed abnormalities

(A) Eye closure-related abnormalities (eg, photosensitivity) in a patient with Jeavons syndrome (eyelid myoclonia with absences). High-amplitude, generalized discharges occur within 1 to 3 seconds of closing the eyes in a lit r...

These are of eminent clinical significance because of probably effective or at least helpful non-drug management, such as stimulus avoidance or modification.

Brain MRI is mandated for those with suspected brain lesions of structural reflex epilepsy. High-resolution MRI should be used because subtle cortical dysplastic or other lesions may be missed or found only in a surgical pathology specimen (102).

Management

Available treatment approaches for reflex seizures and reflex epilepsies are not essentially different from the treatment of other epilepsy or seizure types. However, preventive nonpharmacological strategies have been proven to be very effective and, therefore, are important in these entities.

Nonpharmacological strategies mainly comprise stimulus avoidance and modification, as desensitization is still primarily a theoretical concept in these cases. Forster investigated the possibilities of this highly individualized approach tailored to the stimulus and showed that such interventions can be fundamentally successful, but more investigations are necessary (45).

Clearly, avoidance, prevention, or modification of the provocative stimulus may be sufficient for many patients with reflex seizures. The usual advice about avoiding sleep deprivation, excessive alcohol use, and recreational drugs should be given to any patient with epilepsy, and reflex epilepsy patients are no exception.

Stimulus avoidance is the best prevention of reflex seizures, always worth considering, although the applicability of this option depends on individual circumstances. Some stimuli, especially if very specific, can be avoided entirely (eg, provocative, usually very selective pieces of music), whereas others like eating surely cannot. In those cases, modifying stimuli to make them innocuous is another excellent option (eg, eating smaller meals).

In pure photosensitive and pattern-induced seizures, avoidance of the provocative stimulus may not be acceptable for patients (eg, in television-induced seizures). In approximately 10% of patients, a condition known as “compulsive attraction” can make modifications difficult because those patients are “drawn like a magnet” to the screen when watching TV, which is usually followed by a generalized tonic-clonic seizure.

In any case, patients should be advised to watch the television in a well-lit room from a distance of at least 2 meters (also depending on the size of the screen, eg, typically greater than 2.5 meters for a 19-inch screen) and use the remote control; if it is necessary to approach the screen, the patient should cover one eye with the palm and avoid prolonged watching, particularly if sleep-deprived or tired. Occlusion of one eye is also advised when photosensitive individuals are suddenly exposed to flickering lights, such as in nightclubs. Flicker frequency is the most important factor in photosensitive epilepsies, with the lower frequency TV sets (50 Hz) being more liable to induce a photosensitive response than high-frequency monitors, LCD, or plasma TV screens.

Patients with video game-induced seizures should attempt to go without video games, or the playing time should be significantly restricted and confined to periods when patients are not sleep-deprived. Good advice is that such patients do not play video games when they are alone. Conditioning treatment or wearing appropriately tinted glasses has been recommended. A commercially available blue lens, Z1, was found to be highly effective in controlling photoparoxysmal discharges. An optometric technique, colorimetry, enables the perceptual effects of ophthalmic tints to be evaluated subjectively, optimized, and then prescribed in tinted spectacles (Wilkins 1995a; 181).

Modification of reading and talking habits may be successful in reading epilepsy.

Altering bathing techniques, eg, lowering water temperature (bathing in lukewarm water), showering, or sponging instead of pouring water over the head, and reducing the bath duration, are usually sufficient to achieve seizure control in hot water epilepsy.

Many patients with eating-induced seizures have their seizures only with bulky meals, so reduction of portions is an easy and applicable modification.

Prophylactic antiepileptic medication. Prophylactic antiepileptic drugs are needed when triggering stimuli are not preventable, when seizures are frequent, or when seizures occur spontaneously. The choice of an antiseizure medication depends on its specific efficacy on the types of reflex and spontaneous seizure and the particular epileptic syndrome (126; 81). This is no different from treatment of spontaneous seizures of the same type.

In photosensitive, pattern-induced seizures and those with syndromes of generalized epilepsies, valproate, levetiracetam, lamotrigine, and clonazepam suppress photosensitivity, in that order of efficacy. Valproate is effective for all types of photically or spontaneously induced seizure. It has been shown that photosensitivity can be abolished in half of patients, whereas two thirds show a reduced photosensitivity range. Levetiracetam is also effective for all types of photically or spontaneously induced seizures; it is much more efficacious in myoclonic seizures and GTCS than absence seizures. Lamotrigine is effective for all but myoclonic photically or spontaneously induced seizure types. Its efficacy in photoparoxysmal discharges has been studied, mainly with valproate1, and may be due to their pharmacodynamic interaction. Lamotrigine may be particularly useful in absence seizures when valproate is ineffective or undesirable. Benzodiazepines, particularly clonazepam, are effective in photically or spontaneously induced myoclonic seizures, but clonazepam might be ineffective against or can even exaggerate GTCS. Most of the other antiseizure medications (ie, carbamazepine, gabapentin, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, pregabalin, tiagabine, and vigabatrin) are contraindicated because they are ineffective (ie, they induce side effects without providing any therapeutic benefit) in addition to depriving patients of appropriate treatment. Self-induced visual-evoked seizures may be complex to treat. The attacks may be pleasurable, and there is a clear secondary gain for some patients (11; 166); for those patients, psychiatric support might be needed.

In primary reading epilepsy, clonazepam 0.5 to 1.0 mg at night is highly effective.

In startle epilepsy, there is no established drug of choice, and therapy is often unsatisfactory. Clonazepam, clobazam, and carbamazepine are frequently used. The role of the newer antiseizure medications in startle seizures has not been investigated. Lamotrigine and levetiracetam have been found to be very effective in small series of patients.

In hot water epilepsy, intermittent oral administration of clobazam before a hot water bath has been found to be effective. Withdrawal of medication should start on remission of seizures.

Patients belonging to the group of reflex epilepsies have one particular therapeutic option, especially those without spontaneous seizures who rarely encounter provocative stimuli. Such patients can use acute pharmacological prevention in the form of benzodiazepines to prevent the seizures. The efficacy of such prevention has been shown in hot water epilepsy in adolescents and adults, as a head bath is usually taken about once a week. Intermittent administration of clobazam 60 to 90 minutes before a head bath has been shown to prevent seizures in 85% of patients. (106). A short-acting benzodiazepine like midazolam is also an option, especially if the patients are exposed to triggering stimuli more frequently.

Neurosurgery. When focal seizures occur, medically intractable cases should be recognized early and assessed for surgical treatment. It is well known that among patients with epilepsy, approximately 30% remain drug-resistant despite the optimal administration of pharmacological therapies. For these patients, palliative or curative surgical interventions can be proposed (gamma knife, laser interstitial thermal therapy, stereoelectroencephalography-guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation). In the group of reflex epilepsies, most patients have presumed genetic causes. Not an insignificant proportion of patients having startle seizures, seizures induced by somatosensory stimuli, and seizures induced by proprioceptive stimuli have an acquired brain lesion or malformation of cortical development, making them possible surgical candidates. They should be referred early to the centers where the appropriate evaluation can be done.

Outcomes

Outcomes vary significantly depending on the type and cause of reflex seizures. Some patients may have only one or a few reflex seizures in their lifetimes, whereas others may suffer frequent seizures that are intractable to treatment.

Media

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All contributors' financial relationships have been reviewed and mitigated to ensure that this and every other article is free from commercial bias.

Authors

Melita Cacic Hribljan MD PhD

Dr. Cacic Hribljan of Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
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Olalla Urdanibia-Centelles MD PhD

Dr. Urdanibia-Centelles of Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Region Hovedstaden has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
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Editor

Solomon L Moshé MD

Dr. Moshé of Albert Einstein College of Medicine has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
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Former Authors

C P Panayiotopoulos MD PhD
Jerome Engel Jr MD PhD
Benjamin G Zifkin MD and Frederick Andermann MD

Patient Profile

Age range of presentation: 0 month to 65+ years
Heredity: Heredity may be a factor

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Reflex seizures

Differential Diagnosis

choreoathetosis
paroxysmal kinesigenic dystonia
startle epilepsy

Also Relevant

Epilepsy with reading-induced seizures
Hot water epilepsy
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
Myoclonic epilepsy in infancy
Photosensitive occipital lobe epilepsy
- Startle epilepsy
- Visual-sensitive epilepsies

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Epilepsy & Seizures

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NIH: Epilepsy

Reflex seizures

Introduction

Overview

Key points

Historical note and terminology

ILAE definitions and classification

Table 1. Precipitating Stimuli and Reflex Seizures and Syndromes Listed in the ILAE Classification Scheme

Are epilepsies with reflex seizures distinct epilepsy syndromes? Current ILAE position on the matter.

Clinical manifestations

Presentation and course

Table 2. Reflex Seizures, Related Reflex Syndromes, and the Precipitating Stimuli

Table 3. Reflex Seizure Types and Regional or Functional Triggers in Patients with Generalized Epileptiform Activity

Table 4. Reflex Seizure Types and Regional or Functional Triggers in Patients With Underlying Focal Epilepsy

Extrinsic reflex epilepsy

Intrinsic reflex epilepsy

Prognosis and complications

Biological basis

Localization

Etiology and pathogenesis

Pathophysiology

Epidemiology

Prevention

Differential diagnosis

Confusing conditions

Associated and underlying disorders

Diagnostic workup

Management

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Pregnancy

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Patient Profile

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