Texting Rhythm With Temporal Predominance.

Abstract

To the Editor: We read with interest the study describing the texting rhythm, characterized as a paroxysmal, time-locked, rhythmic 5 to 6 Hz monomorphic theta rhythm with a generalized, frontocentral-dominant distribution.1 This is definitely important for neurophysiologists to recognize, especially during diagnostic EEG without video in patients being monitored for events to correlate what is an increasingly common activity in the younger generation of “technical natives.” We observed a variation of this phenomenon in a 15-year-old girl who underwent inpatient video-EEG monitoring for behavioral outbursts that ultimately turned out to be nonepileptic events. In this variant, we noted a similar monomorphic theta rhythm with bitemporal predominance that started abruptly with texting and ended with the patient looking up from her iPhone (Fig. 1). Generalized or frontal midline theta rhythms evoked by cognitive processing are well characterized as discussed by the authors. Entrainment of temporal activity has been demonstrated with acoustic signals.2 Our observations corroborate the phenomenon described by the authors and demonstrate a texting rhythm variant of bitemporal predominance, consistent with a spectrum of EEG patterns related to interaction with devices. Specifically, texting rhythm may also present with temporal EEG features, in addition to the generalized, frontocentral-dominant features so well brought to our attention.1