Sleep, Sleep Deprivation, Photosensitivity and Epilepsy

In order to investigate whether sleep deprivation activates the photoconvulsive response 35 patients were investigated electroencephalographically after 24–36 h of waking. In 34 cases with sleep deprivation photostimulation showed a clear photosensitivity which was not present before sleep deprivation. This pathological response to photostimulation was unchanged after the short sleep period, in some even potentiated. Long-term anticonvulsive therapy could not suppress the positive photic reaction after sleep deprivation. No correlation between the blood glucose level and photosensibility could be determined. In summary it can be stated that sleep deprivation appears to have a activating effect on photosensitivity. The clinical employment and the neurophysiological mechanisms are discussed.