Visual discomfort induced by natural images in migraineurs and normal controls S Imaizumi1, A Suzuki2, S Koyama2, H Hibino2 |
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1Chiba University and JSPS, Japan |
| Abstract paintings with excessive energy at medium spatial frequencies are likely to induce visual discomfort [Fernandez and Wilkins, 2008, Perception, 37(7), 1098-1113]. However, it has not been investigated that how spatial properties of natural images contribute to discomfort especially in migraineurs, who are known to be susceptible to visual discomfort [Muelleners et al, 2001, Headache, 41(6), 565-572]. In experiment 1, participants classified 122 natural images into comfortable and uncomfortable images according to discomfort to view. Consequently, we obtained five each of comfortable and uncomfortable images. The Fourier amplitude spectra of these images revealed that the uncomfortable images had higher energy at the spatial frequency of 4.0-4.7 cycles/degree (cpd). In experiment 2, migraineurs and controls rated discomfort to view the comfortable/uncomfortable images filtered to have lower energy at 4.0-4.7 cpd and the original images on a 7-point scale. Simultaneously, participants’ pupil sizes were measured. Results showed that there was no difference between discomfort ratings for the comfortable and uncomfortable filtered images in both participant groups, and that the pupils of migraineurs particularly contracted when they viewed the uncomfortable original images. In conclusion, the amount of energy at 4.0-4.7 cpd in natural images contributes to visual discomfort, especially in migraineurs. |
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