Large electroencephalographic responses and their relationship to cleido-cranial dysplasia

We have reported six individuals (five certain heterozygotes for cleido-cranial-dysostosis and one possible heterozygote) who have unusual EEG findings, consisting of very large responses to photic flash stimulation at very low stimulus rates. Such visual responses are extremely rare and have not been seen before in the experience of an EEG department over 12 years and they were not seen in 98 control subjects. It is likely that these responses are an irregular manifestation of the gene for cleido-cranial-dysplasia, and that the responses are independent of skull deformity. One importance of these responses is their demonstration in neurologically normal individuals for previously such large responses have only been reported in association with neurolipidosis. They may have neurophysiological significance in that they may reflect an unusual balance between inhibitory and excitatory mechanisms in the nervous system.