With your generous support, the Visual Snow Initiative (VSI) is able to fund the groundbreaking research of Dr. Francesca Puledda (principal investigator), Dr. & Prof. Peter Goadsby (supervisor), and their team at King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, & Neuroscience, whose work is advancing the understanding and management of Visual Snow Syndrome (VSS) and shaping the future of research and potential treatments for this complex neurological condition.
King’s College London has become one of the world’s centers for VSS research. Since our last report in April 2024, Viviana Santoro, a PhD student and research assistant, has also joined Dr. Puledda and Professor Goadsby’s team, working on various VSI-funded VSS research projects. Details about VSI’s contributions to King’s research can be found in our latest 2025 Annual King’s College Report.
Advancing Scientific Understanding of VSS
The King’s College 2025 Annual Report for the Visual Snow Initiative presents key findings, featuring insights from Dr. & Prof. Goadsby and Dr. Puledda, brain imaging from their studies, and details on multiple ongoing research projects.
Utilizing state-of-the-art neuroimaging and neurophysiological techniques, including proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), layer-specific fMRI, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), high-density EEG, and visual evoked potentials, researchers aim to:
- Expand on recent biomarker discoveries to further elucidate the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying VSS, including altered visual perception, sensory processing, cortical connectivity, and neuronal metabolism.
- Differentiate VSS from migraine-related cortical dysfunction, examining how the neurophysiological footprint of VSS-related cortical hyperexcitability is distinct from that of migraine. Non-invasive neurophysiology techniques are being utilized to map aberrant brain network function, an area with significant clinical implications.
- Characterize the electrophysiological signature of VSS, with preliminary findings already revealing novel insights into the brain activity patterns associated with the condition.
- Identify potential therapeutic targets, leveraging these discoveries to explore safe, targeted pharmacological and non-invasive interventions that could inform future treatment approaches.
- Lay the groundwork for the development of effective treatment strategies, addressing a critical gap in care for individuals with VSS.
- Dr. Puledda has also recently begun incorporating augmented reality simulations to examine their effects on VSS symptoms, expanding on the Visual Snow Initiative’s Visual Imagery Project. This research now integrates electrophysiological techniques, such as TMS and EEG, to map brain activity and further investigate the neurological mechanisms underlying VSS in response to exposure to dynamic visual stimuli.
Impact and Future Directions
These findings have been presented at leading scientific conferences, including the International Headache Congress and the Migraine Trust International Symposium, with additional formal abstracts in preparation. Beyond VSS, this research has far-reaching implications for the broader field of neurology, particularly in relation to migraine and other disorders of sensory processing.
Thank You
With your generous support, the groundbreaking and comprehensive studies of Dr. Puledda, Dr. & Prof. Goadsby, and their team at King’s College London can continue, as their innovative work advances the understanding and management of VSS to drive progress toward effective solutions for this complex neurological condition. VSI and King’s College extend a heartfelt thank you to our supporters, whose commitment fosters collaboration, awareness for VSS, and fuels advancements in the field.
