Studying brain activity in people with visual snow syndrome and migraine
Tests brain scans and visual tasks in adults with visual snow syndrome.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Investigating Brain Function in People With and Without Visual Snow Syndrome Using Adaptation to Visual Stimuli
Key facts
- Where
- Minneapolis, United StatesSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 60 years old?
Source: NCT06961864, who can take part
Where in United States
- University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, United StatesTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University of Minnesota
- Trial code
- NCT06961864
- Record updated
- 14 January 2026
- Original description
The goal of this study is to learn more about the brain pathways and activity involved in creating Visual Snow Syndrome (VSS). The main questions it aims to answer are:Read full original descriptionShow less
Visual Perception in Visual Snow Syndrome
The goal of this study is to learn more about the brain pathways and activity involved in creating Visual Snow Syndrome (VSS). The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Does VSS arise from spontaneous activity in brain pathways? * Where in the brain does the activity contributing to VSS arise? * How does brain activity contribute to VSS?
Participants will:
1. Undergo assessments and questionnaires to understand visual and mental symptoms, cognitive, and sensory function. 2. Make visual judgements based on images presented to them both inside and outside a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. 3. Undergo scanning of their brain while inside of an MRI machine.
Inclusion: Between the ages of 18 and 60 years old; Normal (20/25 or better in each eye) or corrected-to-normal vision (MR-compatible glasses will be provided as needed); Ability to comply with study instructions; Individuals who have a current diagnosis of VSS from a neuro-ophthalmologist or meet diagnostic criteria of VSS (experience of dynamic dots across the visual field persisting longer than 3 months and at least 2 of the following additional visual symptoms: palinopsia, entoptic phenomena, trails behind moving objects, photophobia, or nyctalopia); Individuals living in Minnesota within 2 hours of the study site; Between the ages of 18 and 60 years old; Normal (20/25 or better in each eye) or corrected-to-normal vision (MR-compatible glasses will be provided as needed); Ability to comply with study instructions; Individuals living in Minnesota within 2 hours of the study site.
Exclusion: Current substance dependence (besides nicotine), or drug dependence with tolerance or withdrawal within past 12 months; Hallucinogenic substance use within the past 12 months or hallucinogenic substance use within 12 months prior to onset of VSS symptoms; Current substance dependence (besides nicotine), or drug dependence with tolerance or withdrawal within past 12 months; Severe central nervous system disease; MRI exclusions (for MR visits only):; Metal in the body that cannot be approved by the CMRR safety committee; Pregnancy; Conditions that affect neuro-hemodynamic coupling; Claustrophobia; Inability to lie still for at least an hour; Weight in excess of 440 lbs; CT scan exclusion only: Research-related radiation exposure within the last 12 months; Severe central nervous system disease; MRI exclusions (for MR visits only):; Metal in the body that cannot be approved by the CMRR safety committee; Pregnancy; Conditions that affect neuro-hemodynamic coupling; Claustrophobia; Inability to lie still for at least an hour; Weight in excess of 440 lbs; CT scan exclusion only: Research-related radiation exposure within the last 12 months; A personal history of VSS symptoms or a diagnosis with VSS; Age less than 18 years or greater than 60 years; Age less than 18 years or greater than 60 years; Not being fluent in English or another language for which interpretation/translation services are available; A diagnosed or self-reported intellectual disability; Head injury with skull fracture or loss of consciousness for more than thirty minutes; Presence of a physical problem that would render study measures difficult or impossible to administer or interpret (e.g., visual field loss); Any vision anomaly aside from VS or refractive error (e.g., strabismus/ crossed eyes, lazy eyes, color blindness); Current psychotic episode; Not being fluent in English or another language for which interpretation/translation services are available; A diagnosed or self-reported intellectual disability; Hallucinogenic substance use within the past 12 months; Head injury with skull fracture or loss of consciousness for more than thirty minutes; Presence of a physical problem that would render study measures difficult or impossible to administer or interpret (e.g., visual field loss); Any vision anomaly or refractive error (e.g. strabismus/ crossed eyes, lazy eyes, color blind); Current psychotic episode.