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Ortega-Robles E, Cantillo-Negrete J, Carino-Escobar RI, Arias-Carrión O. Methodological approach for assessing motor cortical excitability changes with single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation. MethodsX 2023; 11:102451. [PMID: 38023316 PMCID: PMC10630640 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2023.102451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) serves as a crucial tool in evaluating motor cortex excitability by applying short magnetic pulses to the skull, inducing neuron depolarization in the cerebral cortex through electromagnetic induction. This technique leads to the activation of specific skeletal muscles recorded as Motor-Evoked Potentials (MEPs) through electromyography. Although various methodologies assess cortical excitability with TMS, measuring MEP amplitudes offers a straightforward approach, especially when comparing excitability states pre- and post-interventions designed to alter cortical excitability. Despite TMS's widespread use, the absence of a standardized procedure for such measurements in existing literature hinders the comparison of results across different studies. This paper proposes a standardized procedure for assessing changes in motor cortical excitability using single-pulse TMS pre- and post-intervention. The recommended approach utilizes an intensity equating to half of the MEP's maximum amplitude, thereby ensuring equal likelihood of amplitude increase or decrease, providing a consistent basis for future studies and facilitating meaningful comparisons of results.•A method for assessing changes in motor cortical excitability using single-pulse TMS before and after a specified intervention.•We recommend using an intensity equal to half of the MEP's maximum amplitude during evaluations to objectively assess motor cortical excitability changes post-intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Ortega-Robles
- Unidad de Trastornos del Movimiento y Sueño, Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Jessica Cantillo-Negrete
- División de Investigación en Neurociencias Clínica, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Mexico City 14389, Mexico
| | - Ruben I. Carino-Escobar
- División de Investigación en Neurociencias Clínica, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Mexico City 14389, Mexico
| | - Oscar Arias-Carrión
- Unidad de Trastornos del Movimiento y Sueño, Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
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2
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Haigh SM, Haugland AM, Mendoza LR, Montero M. Auditory discomfort in visually sensitive individuals. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1126481. [PMID: 38098527 PMCID: PMC10720311 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1126481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Sensory discomfort occurs in clinical and non-clinical populations. While some of the parameters that evoke visual discomfort have been identified, the parameters of sounds that evoke auditory discomfort are largely unknown. Methods We presented various sounds and asked participants to rate the discomfort they experienced. In Experiments 1 and 2 tones were presented at frequencies between 0.25-8 kHz and modulated sinusoidally in amplitude at frequencies between 0-32 Hz. In Experiment 3 tones were swept in frequency from 500 Hz-2 kHz at sweep rates of 5-50 per second. In Experiment 4, sweeps varied in frequency range and central frequency. Results Discomfort increased with frequency. The effects of the amplitude modulation and sweep rate on discomfort were relatively small and were experienced mainly at low modulation frequencies and high sweep rates. Individuals who experienced visuo-perceptual distortions in the Pattern Glare (PG) Test reported greater auditory discomfort. Discussion This suggests that sensory sensitivity in one modality may occur in another.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Haigh
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Neuroscience, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, United States
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3
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Penacchio O, Otazu X, Wilkins AJ, Haigh SM. A mechanistic account of visual discomfort. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1200661. [PMID: 37547142 PMCID: PMC10397803 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1200661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Much of the neural machinery of the early visual cortex, from the extraction of local orientations to contextual modulations through lateral interactions, is thought to have developed to provide a sparse encoding of contour in natural scenes, allowing the brain to process efficiently most of the visual scenes we are exposed to. Certain visual stimuli, however, cause visual stress, a set of adverse effects ranging from simple discomfort to migraine attacks, and epileptic seizures in the extreme, all phenomena linked with an excessive metabolic demand. The theory of efficient coding suggests a link between excessive metabolic demand and images that deviate from natural statistics. Yet, the mechanisms linking energy demand and image spatial content in discomfort remain elusive. Here, we used theories of visual coding that link image spatial structure and brain activation to characterize the response to images observers reported as uncomfortable in a biologically based neurodynamic model of the early visual cortex that included excitatory and inhibitory layers to implement contextual influences. We found three clear markers of aversive images: a larger overall activation in the model, a less sparse response, and a more unbalanced distribution of activity across spatial orientations. When the ratio of excitation over inhibition was increased in the model, a phenomenon hypothesised to underlie interindividual differences in susceptibility to visual discomfort, the three markers of discomfort progressively shifted toward values typical of the response to uncomfortable stimuli. Overall, these findings propose a unifying mechanistic explanation for why there are differences between images and between observers, suggesting how visual input and idiosyncratic hyperexcitability give rise to abnormal brain responses that result in visual stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Penacchio
- Department of Computer Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Computer Vision Center, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Xavier Otazu
- Department of Computer Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Computer Vision Center, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Arnold J. Wilkins
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah M. Haigh
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV, United States
- Institute for Neuroscience, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV, United States
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4
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Lee MJ, Park BY, Cho S, Kim S, Park H, Kim ST, Chung CS. Cerebrovascular reactivity and deep white matter hyperintensities in migraine: A prospective CO 2 targeting study. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2022; 42:1879-1889. [PMID: 35607990 PMCID: PMC9536123 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x221103006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Several studies suggested the association of migraine with deep white matter hyperintensities (WMHs). We aimed to explore the cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), deep WMH burden, and their association in patients with migraine using a state-of-the-art methodology. A total of 31 patients with migraine without aura and 31 age/sex-matched controls underwent 3T MRI with prospective end-tidal carbon dioxide (CO2) targeting. We quantified deep WMH clusters using an automated segmentation tool and measured voxel-wise CVR by changes in blood oxygen level-dependent signal fitted to subjects' end-tidal CO2. The association of migraine and CVR with the presence of WMH in each voxel and interaction of migraine and CVR on WMH were analysed. Patients had a higher number of deep WMHs than controls (p = 0.015). Migraine and reduced CVR were associated with increased probability of having WMHs in each voxel (adjusted OR 30.78 [95% CI 1.89-500.53], p = 0.016 and adjusted OR 0.30 [0.29-0.32], p < 0.001, respectively). Migraine had an effect modification on CVR on deep WMHs (p for interaction <0.001): i.e. the association between CVR and WMH was greater in patients than in controls. We suggest that the migraine-WMH association can be explained by the effect modification on the CVR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Ji Lee
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.,Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Bo-Yong Park
- Department of Data Science, Inha University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Soohyun Cho
- Department of Neurology, Uijeongbu Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University School of Medicine, Uijeongbu, South Korea
| | - Seonwoo Kim
- Statistics and Data Center, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyunjin Park
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon, South Korea.,School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Sung Tae Kim
- Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Chin-Sang Chung
- Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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5
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Ten Brink AF, Bultitude JH. Visual Sensitivity in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and Fibromyalgia: An Online Study. Perception 2022; 51:187-209. [PMID: 35236184 PMCID: PMC8958570 DOI: 10.1177/03010066211072641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Perceptual anomalies can provide insights into underlying pathologies even when they are not the main symptom of many clinical conditions. Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and fibromyalgia are chronic pain conditions associated with changes in the central nervous system, possibly leading to enhanced visual sensitivity. It is unclear whether this occurs more than for people with other types of pain. We examined visual sensitivity elicited by different stimuli and in daily life, through an online study of people with CRPS (n = 57), fibromyalgia (n = 74), other pain (n = 50), and no pain (n = 89). Respondents rated changes in pain, discomfort, or distress from viewing patterns with different spatial frequencies (lower-order visual processing), and reversible figures (bistable images; higher-order visual processing). We assessed visual sensitivity in daily life using the Leiden Visual Sensitivity Scale and Visual Discomfort Scale. Respondents with CRPS or fibromyalgia reported more visual discomfort than pain-related and pain-free controls while viewing striped patterns and a circle, with no effect of spatial frequency. They reported more pain while viewing a nonreversible square, but not reversible figures (Necker Cube, Duck/Rabbit). Finally, they reported more daily visual sensitivity than pain-related and pain-free controls. Suppressing visual cortical activity might benefit people with CRPS or fibromyalgia.
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Penacchio O, Haigh SM, Ross X, Ferguson R, Wilkins AJ. Visual Discomfort and Variations in Chromaticity in Art and Nature. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:711064. [PMID: 34987354 PMCID: PMC8720932 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.711064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual discomfort is related to the statistical regularity of visual images. The contribution of luminance contrast to visual discomfort is well understood and can be framed in terms of a theory of efficient coding of natural stimuli, and linked to metabolic demand. While color is important in our interaction with nature, the effect of color on visual discomfort has received less attention. In this study, we build on the established association between visual discomfort and differences in chromaticity across space. We average the local differences in chromaticity in an image and show that this average is a good predictor of visual discomfort from the image. It accounts for part of the variance left unexplained by variations in luminance. We show that the local chromaticity difference in uncomfortable stimuli is high compared to that typical in natural scenes, except in particular infrequent conditions such as the arrangement of colorful fruits against foliage. Overall, our study discloses a new link between visual ecology and discomfort whereby discomfort arises when adaptive perceptual mechanisms are overstimulated by specific classes of stimuli rarely found in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Penacchio
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah M. Haigh
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV, United States
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Xortia Ross
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Rebecca Ferguson
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Arnold J. Wilkins
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom
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7
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Tempesta AJ, Miller CE, Litvak V, Bowman H, Schofield AJ. The missing N1 or jittered P2: Electrophysiological correlates of pattern glare in the time and frequency domain. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:6168-6186. [PMID: 34374142 PMCID: PMC9290835 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Excessive sensitivity to certain visual stimuli (cortical hyperexcitability) is associated with a number of neurological disorders including migraine, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, autism and possibly dyslexia. Others show disruptive sensitivity to visual stimuli with no other obvious pathology or symptom profile (visual stress) which can extend to discomfort and nausea. We used event‐related potentials (ERPs) to explore the neural correlates of visual stress and headache proneness. We analysed ERPs in response to thick (0.37 cycles per degree [c/deg]), medium (3 c/deg) and thin (12 c/deg) gratings, using mass univariate analysis, considering three factors in the general population: headache proneness, visual stress and discomfort. We found relationships between ERP features and the headache and discomfort factors. Stimulus main effects were driven by the medium stimulus regardless of participant characteristics. Participants with high discomfort ratings had larger P1 components for the initial presentation of medium stimuli, suggesting initial cortical hyperexcitability that is later suppressed. The participants with high headache ratings showed atypical N1‐P2 components for medium stripes relative to the other stimuli. This effect was present only after repeated stimulus presentation. These effects were also explored in the frequency domain, suggesting variations in intertrial theta band phase coherence. Our results suggest that discomfort and headache in response to striped stimuli are related to different neural processes; however, more exploration is needed to determine whether the results translate to a clinical migraine population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austyn J Tempesta
- School of Psychology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Claire E Miller
- School of Psychology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Vladimir Litvak
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, UK
| | - Howard Bowman
- School of Psychology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.,School of Computing, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
| | - Andrew J Schofield
- School of Psychology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.,School of Psychology, College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
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Lindquist LC, McIntire GR, Haigh SM. The effects of visual discomfort and chromaticity separation on neural processing during a visual task. Vision Res 2021; 182:27-35. [PMID: 33588291 PMCID: PMC7987861 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2021.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Visual stimuli that are uncomfortable to look at evoke a large neural response suggesting altered processing. While there is some evidence linking uncomfortable achromatic stimuli to impaired visual processing, the effect of uncomfortable chromatic patterns on visual cognition has yet to be explored. Large differences in chromaticity separation (e.g. red and blue) elicit visual discomfort, larger metabolic responses, larger visual evoked potentials, and greater alpha suppression compared to small chromaticity separations (e.g. pink and purple). We investigated the impact of stimuli that varied in their chromaticity separation (calculated in perceptual color space) on a visual task and their effect on neural responses across the cortex. Thirty participants completed a continuous pairs task (letters changed at 3 Hz) while grating patterns that differed in their chromaticity separation alternated with a grey screen at 5 Hz. The different temporal frequencies allowed for steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) to the two stimulus-types to be measured simultaneously using electroencephalography (EEG). A subset of participants rated the gratings on a 9-point scale of discomfort. We observed greater ratings of discomfort and increased power at 5 Hz with the larger chromaticity separations. The increase in 5 Hz power with greater chromaticity separation was evident across the cortex. However, there was no significant effect of chromaticity separation on power at 3 Hz, or on reaction times, and no consistent effect on behavioral accuracy. Despite eliciting heightened neural responses across the cortex, short term exposure to uncomfortable chromatic stimuli does not adversely impact visual task performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa C Lindquist
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557, United States
| | - Gregory R McIntire
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557, United States
| | - Sarah M Haigh
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557, United States.
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9
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A low-cost multichannel NIRS oximeter for monitoring systemic low-frequency oscillations. Neural Comput Appl 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00521-020-04897-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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10
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Bai Z, Fong KNK. "Remind-to-Move" Treatment Enhanced Activation of the Primary Motor Cortex in Patients with Stroke. Brain Topogr 2020; 33:275-283. [PMID: 32056031 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-020-00756-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
"Remind-to-Move" (RTM) has been developed and used as a new treatment for rehabilitation of upper extremity functions in patients with hemiplegia. This study aimed to investigate the cortical activation patterns using functional near-infrared spectroscopic topography for patients with chronic stroke receiving RTM by comparing with their healthy counterparts. Twelve patients with right hemispheric stroke and 15 healthy adults participated in this study. All participants were instructed to completed three experimental conditions-RTM, Move without reminding (Sham), and Remind with No-move (RNoM). In patients with stroke, RTM elicited higher level of activation than the Sham in the contralateral somatosensory association cortex, primary motor cortex, primary somatosensory cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which has been found in healthy participants. However, effects of RTM were robust and more widely distributed in healthy participants, comparing to patients with stroke, comparatively RNoM showed no significant higher activation than the baseline in those areas in both populations. RTM enhances the recruitment of contralateral primary motor cortex and this effect appears to be associated with increased attention allocation towards moving hands upon tactile stimulation in the form of vibration. The RTM treatment is useful to patients with stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongfei Bai
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR.,Department of Occupational Therapy, Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Shanghai, China.,Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kenneth N K Fong
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR.
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11
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Qi X, Fan H, Yang X, Chen Y, Deng W, Guo W, Wang Q, Chen E, Li T, Ma X. High level of pattern glare in major depressive disorder. BMC Psychiatry 2019; 19:415. [PMID: 31864335 PMCID: PMC6925875 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-019-2399-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Visual deficits have been reported in abundance by recent studies on major depressive disorder. Pattern glare manifests as visual distortions, such as the symptoms of headache, glare, eyestrain, illusions of shapes, colors, and motion when viewing repetitive striped patterns, of which some can be observed in major depressive disorder. Inspired by what mentioned, the present study aims to explore whether there exists association between pattern glare and major depressive disorder and further attempts to explore possible clinical diagnostic value of pattern glare in major depressive disorder. METHODS Twenty-four patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDDs group) were compared with 30 age-, gender- and education level-matched healthy control subjects (HCs group) on their visual stress with black-and-white gratings of different spatial frequencies-0.3 (low-SF), 2.3 (mid-SF), and 9.4 (high-SF) cycles per degree (c/deg)-which was named pattern glare test. The MDDs group divided into first episode medication-free group (fMDD) and recurrent medicated group (rMDD), comparisons of pattern glare scores (PGS) were performed within the MDDs group. We used Pearson and Spearman analysis to explore the relationship between some clinical indexes and pattern glare scores. ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve was used to evaluate whether pattern glare test was able to discriminate patients and healthy controls. RESULTS The mid-SF pattern glare score significantly elevated in patients with major depressive disorder compared to control subjects. No differences of pattern glare scores were found between fMDD and rMDD. A significant negative correlation between mid-high difference and age in HCs group was found. There were no correlations between other variables and pattern glare scores. The mid-SF score has limited value in the diagnosis of major depressive disorder. CONCLUSIONS We observed an increased level of pattern glare in patients with major depressive disorder, reflecting the existence of cortical hyper-excitability in major depressive disorder. The mid-SF score may have a value in understanding cortical excitability in major depressive disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiongwei Qi
- 0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fPsychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064 People’s Republic of China
| | - Huanhuan Fan
- 0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fPsychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao Yang
- 0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fPsychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yayun Chen
- 0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fPsychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064 People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Deng
- 0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fPsychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064 People’s Republic of China ,0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fWest China Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wanjun Guo
- 0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fPsychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064 People’s Republic of China ,0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fWest China Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- 0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fPsychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064 People’s Republic of China ,0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fWest China Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Eric Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Tao Li
- 0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fPsychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064 People’s Republic of China ,0000 0004 1770 1022grid.412901.fWest China Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaohong Ma
- Psychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610064, People's Republic of China. .,West China Brain Research Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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12
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Haigh SM, Chamanzar A, Grover P, Behrmann M. Cortical Hyper‐Excitability in Migraine in Response to Chromatic Patterns. Headache 2019; 59:1773-1787. [DOI: 10.1111/head.13620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Haigh
- Department of Psychology, Institute for Neuroscience University of Nevada Reno NV USA
- Department of Psychology, Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh PA USA
| | - Alireza Chamanzar
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh PA USA
| | - Pulkit Grover
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh PA USA
| | - Marlene Behrmann
- Department of Psychology, Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh PA USA
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Han D, Wegrzyn J, Bi H, Wei R, Zhang B, Li X. Practice makes the deficiency of global motion detection in people with pattern-related visual stress more apparent. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0193215. [PMID: 29447280 PMCID: PMC5814055 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims Pattern-related visual stress (PRVS) refers to the perceptual difficulties experienced by some individuals when exposed to high contrast striped patterns. People with PRVS were reported to have reduced sensitivity to global motion at baseline testing and the difference disappears at a second estimate. The present study was to investigate the effect of practice on global motion threshold in adults with and without PRVS. Methods A total of 101 subjects were recruited and the Wilkins & Evans Pattern Glare Test was used to determine if a subject had PRVS. The threshold to detect global motion was measured with a random dot kinematogram. Each subject was measured 5 times at the first visit and again a month later. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was applied to show the agreement between the two tests. Results Twenty-nine subjects were classified as having PRVS and 72 were classified as normal. At baseline, the threshold to detect global motion was significantly higher in subjects with PRVS (0.832 ± 0.098 vs. 0.618 ± 0.228, p < 0.001). After 5 sessions, the difference between the normal and subjects with PRVS increased (0.767 ± 0.170 vs. 0.291 ± 0.149, p < 0.001). In ROC analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) improved from 0.792 at baseline to 0.964 at the fifth session. After a one-month break, the difference between normal and subjects with PRVS was still significant (0.843 ± 0.169 vs. 0.407 ± 0.216, p < 0.001) and the AUC was 0.875. Conclusion The ability to detect global motion is impaired in persons with PRVS and the difference increased after additional sessions of practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ding Han
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jana Wegrzyn
- College of Optometry, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States of America
| | - Hua Bi
- College of Optometry, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States of America
| | - Ruihua Wei
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- College of Optometry, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail: (BZ); (XRL)
| | - Xiaorong Li
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
- * E-mail: (BZ); (XRL)
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Imaizumi S, Koyama S, Tanno Y. Development of the Japanese version of the Visual Discomfort Scale. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191094. [PMID: 29324819 PMCID: PMC5764345 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Visual stimuli, such as stripes and texts, can induce "visual discomfort" including perceptual and somatic symptoms. Individuals reporting high levels of visual discomfort might experience migraine headache and may have reduced reading efficiency due to visual perceptual difficulties. This study aimed to develop and validate the Japanese version of the Visual Discomfort Scale, which measures proneness to visual discomfort. METHODS AND RESULTS In Survey 1, 428 adults completed the Japanese version and a questionnaire assessing migraine morbidity. Rasch analysis revealed that the Japanese version is a unidimensional scale with a high amount of unexplained variance due to random noise rather than another dimension, and has high person and item reliabilities. Participants with migraine exhibited high scores in the Japanese version, indicating the construct validity of the scale. Survey 2 with 118 adults revealed a strong test-retest correlation for the Japanese version, indicating the stability of the scale. CONCLUSION The Japanese version of the Visual Discomfort Scale is a sufficiently reliable and valid scale for assessing visual discomfort, although its unidimensionality leaves room for further improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Imaizumi
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Shinichi Koyama
- Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yoshihiko Tanno
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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15
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Chassy P. The neural signature of emotional memories in serial crimes. Med Hypotheses 2017; 108:31-34. [PMID: 29055395 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2017.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Neural plasticity is the process whereby semantic information and emotional responses are stored in neural networks. It is hypothesized that the neural networks built over time to encode the sexual fantasies that motivate serial killers to act should display a unique, detectable activation pattern. The pathological neural watermark hypothesis posits that such networks comprise activation of brain sites that reflect four cognitive components: autobiographical memory, sexual arousal, aggression, and control over aggression. The neural sites performing these cognitive functions have been successfully identified by previous research. The key findings are reviewed to hypothesise the typical pattern of activity that serial killers should display. Through the integration of biological findings into one framework, the neural approach proposed in this paper is in stark contrast with the many theories accounting for serial killers that offer non-medical taxonomies. The pathological neural watermark hypothesis offers a new framework to understand and detect deviant individuals. The technical and legal issues are briefly discussed.
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Yoshimoto S, Garcia J, Jiang F, Wilkins AJ, Takeuchi T, Webster MA. Visual discomfort and flicker. Vision Res 2017; 138:18-28. [PMID: 28709920 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2017.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Revised: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Flickering lights can be uncomfortable to look at and can induce seizures in observers with photosensitive epilepsy. However, the temporal characteristics contributing to these effects are not fully known. In the spatial domain, one identified source of visual discomfort is when images have Fourier amplitude spectra that deviate from the natural (∼1/frequency, 1/f) statistical characteristics of natural scenes, especially if they contain excess energy at the medium frequencies at which the visual system is most sensitive. We tested for analogous effects in the temporal domain, manipulating both the amplitude and phase spectra of the flicker. Participants judged the relative discomfort of temporal luminance variations in a pair of uniform 17° fields with different temporal modulations. In general, discomfort increased with deviations from natural amplitude spectra, particularly those with excess energy at medium frequencies or biased toward sharper spectra. These ratings of discomfort were also consistent with ratings of how natural the modulations appeared. However, the temporal discomfort judgments were also strongly affected by the phase spectra of the flicker, with fixed vs. random spectra producing very different responses. This was not due to the perceived regularity or predictability of the flicker, but could arise from a number of other potential factors. Our findings suggest that, like spatial patterns, visual discomfort in time-varying patterns depends in part on how similar they are to the amplitude spectra of temporal variations in the natural visual environment, but also point to the critical role of the phase spectrum in the perceived discomfort of flicker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanae Yoshimoto
- School of Psychology, Chukyo University, Showa-ku Yagotohonmachi 101-2, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8666, Japan; Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557, USA.
| | - Jesel Garcia
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557, USA.
| | - Fang Jiang
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557, USA.
| | - Arnold J Wilkins
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK.
| | - Tatsuto Takeuchi
- Department of Psychology, Japan Women's University, Tama-ku Nishi-ikuta 1-1-1, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 214-8565, Japan.
| | - Michael A Webster
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557, USA.
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Abstract
Op-art-based stimuli have been shown to be uncomfortable, possibly due to a combination of fixational eye movements (microsaccades) and excessive cortical responses. Efforts have been made to measure illusory phenomena arising from these stimuli in the absence of microsaccades, but there has been no attempt thus far to decouple the effects of the cortical response from the effect of fixational eye movements. This study uses flash afterimages to stabilise the image on the retina and thus reduce the systematic effect of eye movements, in order to investigate the role of the brain in discomfort from op-art-based stimuli. There was a relationship between spatial frequency and the magnitude of the P300 response, showing a similar pattern to that of discomfort judgements, which suggests that there might be a role of discomfort and excessive neural responses independently from the effects of microsaccades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise O'Hare
- School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK
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18
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O'Hare L. Steady-state VEP responses to uncomfortable stimuli. Eur J Neurosci 2016; 45:410-422. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Revised: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Louise O'Hare
- University of Lincoln; Brayford Pool Lincoln LN6 7TS UK
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19
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Evans BJW, Allen PM. A systematic review of controlled trials on visual stress using Intuitive Overlays or the Intuitive Colorimeter. JOURNAL OF OPTOMETRY 2016; 9:205-18. [PMID: 27425262 PMCID: PMC5030324 DOI: 10.1016/j.optom.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Revised: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 04/03/2016] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Claims that coloured filters aid reading date back 200 years and remain controversial. Some claims, for example, that more than 10% of the general population and 50% of people with dyslexia would benefit from coloured filters lack sound evidence and face validity. Publications with such claims typically cite research using methods that have not been described in the scientific literature and lack a sound aetiological framework. Notwithstanding these criticisms, some researchers have used more rigorous selection criteria and methods of prescribing coloured filters that were developed at a UK Medical Research Council unit and which have been fully described in the scientific literature. We review this research and disconfirm many of the more extreme claims surrounding this topic. This literature indicates that a minority subset of dyslexics (circa 20%) may have a condition described as visual stress which most likely results from a hyperexcitability of the visual cortex. Visual stress is characterised by symptoms of visual perceptual distortions, headaches, and eyestrain when viewing repetitive patterns, including lines of text. This review indicates that visual stress is distinct from, although sometimes co-occurs with, dyslexia. Individually prescribed coloured filters have been shown to improve reading performance in people with visual stress, but are unlikely to influence the phonological and memory deficits associated with dyslexia and therefore are not a treatment for dyslexia. This review concludes that larger and rigorous randomised controlled trials of interventions for visual stress are required. Improvements in the diagnosis of the condition are also a priority.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter M Allen
- Department of Vision and Hearing Sciences and Vision and Eye Research Unit, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
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20
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Hanlon FM, Shaff NA, Dodd AB, Ling JM, Bustillo JR, Abbott CC, Stromberg SF, Abrams S, Lin DS, Mayer AR. Hemodynamic response function abnormalities in schizophrenia during a multisensory detection task. Hum Brain Mapp 2015; 37:745-55. [PMID: 26598791 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Revised: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) response has commonly been used to investigate the neuropathology underlying cognitive and sensory deficits in patients with schizophrenia (SP) by examining the positive phase of the BOLD response, assuming a fixed shape for the hemodynamic response function (HRF). However, the individual phases (positive and post-stimulus undershoot (PSU)) of the HRF may be differentially affected by a variety of underlying pathologies. The current experiment used a multisensory detection task with a rapid event-related fMRI paradigm to investigate both the positive and PSU phases of the HRF in SP and healthy controls (HC). Behavioral results indicated no significant group differences during task performance. Analyses that examined the shape of the HRF indicated two distinct group differences. First, SP exhibited a reduced and/or prolonged PSU following normal task-related positive BOLD activation in secondary auditory and visual sensory areas relative to HC. Second, SP did not show task-induced deactivation in the anterior node of the default-mode network (aDMN) relative to HC. In contrast, when performing traditional analyses that focus on the positive phase, there were no group differences. Interestingly, the magnitude of the PSU in secondary auditory and visual areas was positively associated with the magnitude of task-induced deactivation within the aDMN, suggesting a possible common neural mechanism underlying both of these abnormalities (failure in neural inhibition). Results are consistent with recent views that separate neural processes underlie the two phases of the HRF and that they are differentially affected in SP. Hum Brain Mapp 37:745-755, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faith M Hanlon
- The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Nicholas A Shaff
- The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Andrew B Dodd
- The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Josef M Ling
- The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Juan R Bustillo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico.,Department of Neuroscience, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Christopher C Abbott
- Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Shannon F Stromberg
- Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Swala Abrams
- Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Denise S Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Andrew R Mayer
- The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico.,Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico.,Department of Neurology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico.,Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
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21
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Monger LJ, Wilkins AJ, Allen PM. Pattern glare: the effects of contrast and color. Front Psychol 2015; 6:1651. [PMID: 26579034 PMCID: PMC4621622 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To test a theory of visual stress by investigating the inter-relationships between (1) the threshold contrast/saturation at which individuals first report discomfort when viewing colored gratings of progressively increasing contrast and decreasing saturation; (2) the choice of a colored overlay for reading; (3) any increase in reading speed when the overlay is used. Method: Ninety-five young adults, with normal color vision, reported illusions from square-wave gratings (Pattern Glare Test), chose any colored overlays that improved clarity (Intuitive Color Overlays) and read aloud randomly ordered common words (Wilkins Rate of Reading Test). This was followed by an automated choice of tints for text using various screen colors on a tablet, and a test of discomfort from patterns of progressively increasing contrast and decreasing saturation, using software developed for this study. All participants wore their optimal refractive correction throughout the procedure. Results: Fifty-eight participants chose a colored overlay and reported that it made text easier and more comfortable to read. On average, these individuals had a greater improvement in reading speed with their overlays (p = 0.003), a lower contrast threshold at which discomfort from achromatic gratings was first reported (p = 0.015), and a tendency to report more pattern glare (p = 0.052), compared to the other participants. Participants who chose both a most and least preferred tint for text using the automated procedure reported discomfort from colored gratings at a significantly higher contrast with their most preferred color compared to their least preferred color (p = 0.003). The choice of a colored tint was moderately consistent across tests. The most and least preferred colors tended to be complementary. Conclusion: Colored tints that improved reading speed reduced pattern glare both in terms of the illusion susceptibility and in terms of discomfort contrast threshold, supporting a theory of visual stress. An automated test that incorporates colored gratings and a choice of most and least preferred color might better identify individuals whose reading speed improves with colored overlays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Monger
- Department of Vision and Hearing Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge, England
| | - Arnold J Wilkins
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex Colchester, England
| | - Peter M Allen
- Department of Vision and Hearing Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge, England ; Vision and Eye Research Unit, Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge, England
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