You may be familiar with the warning flashing lights. And you may also know the reason for the warning is that flashing lights can trigger seizures in people with epilepsy but why is that? And what is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a neurological disease characterized by reoccurring seizures. During a seizure, neurons fire uncontrollably in the brain, and these electric signals excessively cause a seizure. Symptoms of seizure can sometimes differ depending on what part of the brain is being overloaded. For example, a seizure in a motor area can cause someone to shake or one in the visual cortex can make someone see colors. A subset of seizures is associated with a loss of consciousness. However, having a seizure doesn’t always mean losing consciousness and these are called focal seizures without loss of consciousness; there’s also other symptoms. This might mean altering of the senses, feeling fear, or déjà vu. It can also result in involuntary movement of a body part like jerking your leg. Focal seizures with impaired awareness then do have the change of consciousness or loss. If impaired, one may feel like on or in a dream of sorts. They also may not respond. One could also perform repetitive movements. Focal seizures can happen in any part of the brain/ lobe. A reason one has epilepsy can have many factors like genetics, infections, head trauma, injuries before birth, and things like brain tumors. Things that can trigger a seizure can include drug use, flashing lights, illness, skipping seizure medication, hormones, stress, and much more.
Epilepsy - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board