May 7, 2024 –
Dr. Schankin and Dr. Klein of Inselspital Bern (Switzerland) will initiate a new study on neuromodulation for VSS. This research investigates how transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can modulate overactive neural networks in the brain, potentially leading to new treatment options for VSS. Dr. Schankin and Dr. Klein’s techniques are aimed at reducing several common VSS symptoms, including visual snow/static, palinopsia, entoptic
symptoms, photophobia and nyctalopia.
The underlying idea behind VSS is that multiple neural networks in the brain remain overactive, bombarding the visual system with excess information. TACS, however, offers the ability to modulate these networks. Dr. Schankin and Dr. Klein’s primary goal is to pinpoint the specific areas of the brain where something is not functioning properly. To accomplish this, they are combining several diagnostic markers with a treatment-oriented methodology.
Their research will begin with a comprehensive visual test, MRI and electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements. Dr. Schankin and Dr. Klein are particularly interested in observing how this stimulation affects VSS symptoms, how it affects performance on tasks and whether there are changes in EEG patterns in patients with VSS.