Differences in visual information processing style between Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy with and without photosensitivity

•Both photosensitive epilepsy and analytic cognitive style showed impaired habituation.•Visual analytic style and photosensitive IGE were significantly associated.•Similar cognitive style between migraine with aura and photosensitive IGE emerged.•High auditory analytic scores in IGE with and without photosensitivity are shown. Recently, altered visual cortical processes i.e., lack of habituation to visual evoked potentials (VEP), has been highlighted in both photosensitive epilepsy and in a specific i.e., analytic mode of processing visual inputs. In this study we aimed at evaluating the relationship between photosensitivity (PS) and analytic style of processing visual information, in a sample of 30 patients with Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy (IGE) and matched healthy controls. At our Epilepsy unit of the Sapienza University of Rome, we consecutively enrolled 15 patients with IGE with PSand matched them with 15 patients with IGE without PS and 15 Healthy Volunteers. All patients underwent EEG recording in basal conditions during hyperventilation (3 Min), and intermittent light stimulation. The most effective frequencies comprised from 12 to 16 Hz. The instruments used to gather psychological cognitive behavioral data, consisted of participation in two tests: the Sternberg-Wagner Self-Assessment Inventory and the Mariani Learning Style Questionnaire. Compared to controls, both IGE groups show significantly higher scores for the analytic style (One-way ANOVA, F(2,44) = 110.3, p