Touch-Screen Automatisms in the Digital Age
Abstract number :
2.389
Submission category :
3. Neurophysiology / 3A. Video EEG Epilepsy-Monitoring
Year :
2021
Submission ID :
1886431
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/5/2021 12:00:00 PM
Published date :
Nov 22, 2021, 06:56 AM
Authors :
Ryan McGinn, MD, MASc, FRCPC - Stanford Health Care; Jerry chen, MD, MSc - University of Toronto; Danielle Andrade, MD, MSc - Professor, Neurology, University of Toronto; Richard Wennberg, MD, PhD - Professor, Neurology, University of Toronto; Esther Bui, MD - Associate Professor, Neurology, University of Toronto
Rationale: To describe gestural automatisms in patients with epilepsy related to smartphone and tablet digital device usage.
Methods: Patients were admitted to the epilepsy monitoring unit at the Toronto Western Hospital between April 2016 and January 2020. Patients were included if they exhibited automatisms clearly related to or mimicking digital device usage.
Results: 5 patients (4 women, 1 man) were included, all of whom had temporal lobe epilepsy. 2 had left mesial temporal sclerosis, and 3 had imaging that was normal. 9 seizures were recorded, with 5/9 having right and 4/9 having left temporal onset. Most automatisms occurred after seizure propagation to bilateral temporal lobes (6/9). Left handed automatisms were most common (8/9). The majority (7/9) were perseverative with device usage prior to seizure.
Conclusions: Gestural automatisms appear related to the contemporary culture, habitual behaviour and lived experiences of patients with epilepsy. In our current times, the use of smartphones and tablets are common, and habitual for many. This case series demonstrates touch-screen automatisms as an addition to the semiological description of temporal lobe seizures.
Funding: Please list any funding that was received in support of this abstract.: None.
Neurophysiology