Actively Recruiting
Investigating Brain Function in People With and Without Visual Snow Syndrome Using Adaptation to Visual Stimuli
Led by University of Minnesota · Updated on 2026-01-14
100
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
259 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Minnesota
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
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.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Investigating Brain Function in People With and Without Visual Snow Syndrome Using Adaptation to Visual Stimuli
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Aged between 18 and 60 years old
- Normal (20/25 or better in each eye) or corrected-to-normal vision (MR-compatible glasses provided if needed)
- Ability to follow study instructions
- For VSS group: current diagnosis of Visual Snow Syndrome from a neuro-ophthalmologist or meet VSS diagnostic criteria including persistent dynamic dots and at least two additional visual symptoms
- For control group: no history or diagnosis of Visual Snow Syndrome
- Residence within 2 hours of the study site in Minnesota
You will not qualify if you...
- Not fluent in English or a supported language
- Diagnosed or self-reported intellectual disability
- Current substance dependence (except nicotine) or drug dependence with tolerance or withdrawal in past 12 months
- Hallucinogenic substance use within past 12 months or within 12 months before VSS symptom onset (for VSS group)
- Severe central nervous system disease
- Head injury with skull fracture or loss of consciousness over 30 minutes
- Physical problems making study measures difficult (e.g., visual field loss)
- Age below 18 or above 60 years
- MRI exclusions: metal in body unapproved by safety committee, pregnancy, neuro-hemodynamic coupling conditions, claustrophobia, inability to lie still for 1 hour, weight over 440 lbs
- Recent research-related radiation exposure (CT scan exclusion)
- Vision anomalies aside from VS or refractive error (e.g., crossed eyes, lazy eye, color blindness)
- Current psychotic episode
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55455
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Michael-Paul Schallmo, Ph.D.
CONTACT
H
Hannah Moser, Ph.D.
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
2
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