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Updated: Jul 12, 2026
3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
Clinical correlates of phosphene perception in migraine without aura: an Asian study
Y L Lo1, S Y Lum, S Fook-Chong
1Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore 169608, Singapore. lo.yew.long@sgh.com.sg
Introduction:
Although controversy exists with regard to the presence of hypoexcitability versus hyperexcitability of the visual cortex in migraine patients, there remain a group who do not perceive phosphenes (P-). However, its clinical implications have not been systematically addressed. In this study, we hypothesize that P- patients classified as migraine without aura (MO) have distinct clinical features.
Methods:
Twenty-nine Asian MO patients (7 men; mean age: 44; median: 45; range: 25 to 65) were consecutively entered into the study. Visual cortex transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was performed in the migraine interictum.
Results:
Of the 19 patients, 19 (66%) were able to perceive phosphenes (P+), while 10 (34%) were not able to after repeated TMS (P-). P- patients had significantly higher headache frequency (p=0.008) and pain score (p=0.002) compared with P+ patients. In addition, there was significant positive correlation of phosphene threshold with pain score (r=0.52, p=0.02) in P+ patients. There was no significant difference between P+ and P- patients in terms of age (t-test, p=0.6).
Conclusions:
Our study is inkeeping with the hypothesis that interictal visual cortex excitability is reduced in relation to the severity of migraine in Asian MO patients, and lack of phosphene perception may be related to significantly elevated thresholds beyond the output of TMS stimulators.
