Visual processing in migraine

BackgroundMigraine is a common neurological condition that often involves differences in visualprocessing. These sensory processing differences provide important information aboutthe underlying causes of the condition, and for the development of treatments.Review of Psychophysical LiteraturePsychophysical experiments have shown consistent impairments in contrastsensitivity, orientation acuity, and the perception of global form and motion. Theyhave also established that the addition of task-irrelevant visual noise has a greatereffect, and that surround suppression, masking and adaptation are all stronger inmigraine.Theoretical Signal Processing ModelWe propose utilising an established model of visual processing, based on signalprocessing theory, to account for the behavioural differences seen in migraine. Thishas the advantage of precision and clarity, and generating clear, falsifiablepredictions.ConclusionIncreased effects of noise and differences in excitation and inhibition can account forthe differences in migraine visual perception. Consolidating existing research andcreating a unified, defined theoretical account is needed to better understand thedisorder.