Visual Snow Initiative

Researchers at the University of Siena in Italy studied whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive technique that uses magnetic pulses to influence activity in targeted areas of the brain, could help reduce VSS symptoms.

👩‍⚕️ The case report involved an 18-year-old woman with Visual Snow Syndrome who received 10 sessions of low-frequency rTMS targeting the superior parietal lobule, a brain region involved in visual processing and sensory integration.

Following treatment, she reported an improvement in her symptoms. 🧬 Brain imaging and EEG recordings also showed measurable changes in brain activity, including reduced communication between visual processing regions, decreased gamma-band activity, and changes consistent with reduced cortical hyperexcitability.

🔬 While this research involved only one patient, it adds to the growing body of evidence exploring how non-invasive brain stimulation may influence the neurological activity associated with VSS.

https://www.visualsnowinitiative.org/research/a-new-case-report-repetitive-transcranial-magnetic-stimulation-for-visual-snow-syndrome-symptoms-relief-and-changes-in-brain-dynamics/

Research teams across different countries are exploring how the brain processes motion and visual information in VSS using tools such as visual noise, dynamic images, simulations, videos, augmented reality, and virtual reality. These approaches are helping advance understanding of the neural mechanisms of VSS, including how motion-selective neurons may influence perception. 🔬

🤝 Research in collaboration with the Visual Snow Initiative includes:

🇬🇧 Dr. Francesca Puledda and King’s College London are investigating whether exposure to realistic visual static simulations may affect visual function and VSS symptoms.

🇮🇹 Dr. Damiano Perri, Dr. Osvaldo Gervasi, and the University of Perugia team have developed mobile applications and simulations based on their research findings.

🇺🇸 Dr. Samantha Montoya and the University of Minnesota team are studying whether visual noise may help alleviate VSS symptoms and how the motion aftereffect may alter activity in visual brain regions.

💻 The Visual Imagery Project, launched on May 7, 2020, also explored the effects of repeated exposure to dynamic visual stimuli.

The Visual Snow Initiative continues to support international collaboration that advances understanding of VSS and explores innovative approaches that may contribute to future treatments. 💙