EEG sensitivity to television: effects of ambient lighting.

The effect of ambient lighting on EEG sensitivity to television has been tested in 16 photosensitive epileptic patients. Those who were not sensitive to 50 Hz IPS responded to TV at a viewing distance of 1 m or less and showed a consistent increase of EEG activation by television when the room was brightly lit. Most of those who were sensitive to 50 Hz IPS were also TV-sensitive at viewing distances greater than 1 m and the effect was most marked with lights off. The results are discussed in the context of previous work showing that some patients with TV epilepsy respond to the raster pattern of the screen and some, at greater distance, to 50 Hz flicker.