Sony's new handheld video game causes seizures

SONY'S new handheld video game can cause paralysing seizures in youngsters,medics warned yesterday.

The world's leading expert in photosensitivity said flashing lights and the flickering screen on the £180 PlayStation Portable can cause attacks similar to epileptic fits.

Graham Harding, professor in clinical neurophysiology at Birmingham's Aston University, said: "Any video game has flashing images but it's the proximity to the screen that can induce the seizures.

"And people hold handheld consoles, such as the PSP, very close to their faces.

"The most likely seizure will be photosensitive - it's basically the same as an epileptic attack in children.They are twice as likely to occur in girls than boys. We don't know why this is."
One case per 100,000 people is reported each year in the UK - but in people aged seven to 20, the frequency rises to 5.7 per 100,000.