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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Stimulus-specific Cortical Visual Evoked Potential Morphological Patterns

Stimulus-specific Cortical Visual Evoked Potential Morphological Patterns

Published on: May 12, 2019

A lightning strike to the head causing a visual cortex defect with simple and complex visual hallucinations.

Ingo Kleiter¹, Ralf Luerding, Gerhard Diendorfer

¹Department of Neurology, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstr 84, 93042 Regensburg, Germany. ingo.kleiter@klinik.uni-regensburg.de

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry

|March 21, 2007

Summary

A lightning strike caused a mountaineer severe visual defects and hallucinations. Months later, psychological reactions including nightmares and depression emerged, highlighting long-term neurological and psychological impacts.

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Area of Science:

Neurology
Psychiatry
Meteorology

Background:

Lightning strikes can cause significant neurological and psychological trauma.
Understanding the precise nature of lightning-induced injuries is crucial for effective treatment and prognosis.

Observation:

A 23-year-old mountaineer sustained occipital lightning strike injury, resulting in central visual field defects and bilateral tympanic membrane ruptures.
The patient experienced agitation, requiring a 3-day drug-induced coma, followed by visual hallucinations post-extubation.
Neuropsychological testing revealed deficits in visual detection and non-verbal learning, with electroencephalography indicating right temporal lobe dysfunction.

Findings:

Four months post-injury, the patient developed psychological sequelae, including nightmares and a depressive syndrome, with recurring complex visual hallucinations.
The European Cooperation for Lightning Detection network was utilized to retrospectively determine the lightning flash's geographical location and characteristics.
The case demonstrates a link between acute lightning trauma and delayed psychological reactions, including persistent visual disturbances.

Implications:

This case underscores the potential for delayed psychological and neurological complications following lightning strikes.
Accurate lightning event data can aid in understanding injury mechanisms and patient outcomes.
Further research into the long-term effects of lightning strikes on cognitive and emotional well-being is warranted.