Visual processing in migraine

Abstract

BackgroundMigraine is a common neurological condition that often involves differences in visual processing. These sensory processing differences provide important information about the underlying causes of the condition, and for the development of treatments. Review of Psychophysical LiteraturePsychophysical experiments have shown consistent impairments in contrast sensitivity, orientation acuity, and the perception of global form and motion. They have also established that the addition of task-irrelevant visual noise has a greater effect, and that surround suppression, masking and adaptation are all stronger in migraine. Theoretical Signal Processing ModelWe propose utilising an established model of visual processing, based on signal processing theory, to account for the behavioural differences seen in migraine. This has the advantage of precision and clarity, and generating clear, falsifiable predictions. ConclusionIncreased effects of noise and differences in excitation and inhibition can account for the differences in migraine visual perception. Consolidating existing research and creating a unified, defined theoretical account is needed to better understand the disorder.

Individual differences in sensory sensitivity: A synthesizing framework and evidence from normal variation and developmental conditions

“…This is extended from previous accounts (e.g. relating to migraine; O'Hare and Hibbard, 2016) to offer a unifying framework for exploring sensory sensitivity across different conditions (e.g. autism, migraine, synaesthesia).…”

“…Moreover, these approaches can be extended beyond autism. For instance, increased neural noise accounts have been applied to migraine (O'Hare & Hibbard, 2016).…”

Neural gain control measured through cortical gamma oscillations is associated with individual variations in sensory sensitivity

“…Indeed, subjective discomfort associated with intensive visual stimulation correlates positively with hemodynamic responses in the visual cortex (Bargary et al, 2015; Haigh et al, 2013). Moreover, people with neurological or neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by overt clinical symptoms of elevated neuronal excitability, such as migraine with visual aura (Boulloche et al, 2010; Maniyar et al, 2014; O’Hare and Hibbard, 2016) or epilepsy (van Campen et al, 2015) often suffer from sensory hypersensitivity. It seems plausible that the atypically strong cortical responses observed in people reporting sensory hypersensitivity are caused by deficiency of the gain control mechanisms that balance excitation and inhibition in the sensory cortices.…”

Probing Early Motion Processing With Eye Movements: Differences of Vestibular Migraine, Migraine With and Without Aura in the Attack Free Interval

“…Migraine patients have different sensitivities to sensory stimuli, for example, basic visual functions, even in between attacks . Global and local motion processing is perceptually altered and motion aftereffects are enhanced after viewing a prolonged global motion stimulus .…”

“…Migraine patients have different sensitivities to sensory stimuli, for example, basic visual functions, even in between attacks . Global and local motion processing is perceptually altered and motion aftereffects are enhanced after viewing a prolonged global motion stimulus . The mechanisms discussed for such observations are hyperexcitability of the cortex, extended suppression of cortical excitability, or a general lack of inhibition in the cortex .…”