title: Visual processing in migraine.
abstract: Background Migraine 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 literature Psychophysical 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 model We 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. Conclusion Increased 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.
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Psychology, College of Social Science, University of Lincoln, UK.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Hare
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Psychology, University of Essex, UK.|3 School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, UK.
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Hibbard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014796:Visual Perception
keywords: Migraine; signal processing model; vision perception