Transcranial static magnetic field stimulation (tSMS) of the visual cortex decreases experimental photophobia.
Lozano-Soto E, Soto-León V, Sabbarese S, Ruiz-Alvarez L, Sanchez-Del-Rio M, Aguilar J, Strange BA, Foffani G, Oliviero A. · 2018
View Original AbstractStatic magnetic fields applied to the head for 10 minutes measurably altered brain function and reduced light sensitivity.
Plain English Summary
Researchers tested whether placing a static magnet on the back of the head could reduce light sensitivity (photophobia) in 20 healthy volunteers. They found that 10 minutes of magnetic field exposure significantly reduced discomfort from bright lights compared to a fake treatment. This suggests the visual cortex in the brain contributes to light sensitivity and that magnetic field therapy might help treat photophobia in migraine patients.
Why This Matters
This study demonstrates that static magnetic fields can measurably alter brain function in the visual cortex, reducing photophobia responses in healthy subjects. What makes this research particularly significant is that it shows how external magnetic fields can modulate neural processing in specific brain regions with therapeutic effects. While this was a therapeutic application using deliberate magnetic field exposure, it underscores the reality that magnetic fields do interact with our nervous system in measurable ways. The research provides evidence that our brains are indeed responsive to magnetic field influences, which has broader implications for understanding how everyday EMF exposures might affect neural function. The fact that just 10 minutes of exposure produced significant changes in visual processing highlights the sensitivity of our nervous system to magnetic field influences.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. Duration: 10 minutes
Study Details
The aim of the present study was to investigate Transcranial static magnetic field stimulation (tSMS) of the visual cortex decreases experimental photophobia.
The objective of this study was to determine whether tSMS over the occipital cortex is effective in ...
Compared to sham, tSMS significantly reduced the discomfort induced by high-intensity light stimuli.
The visual cortex may contribute to visual discomfort in experimental photophobia, providing a rationale for investigating tSMS as a possible treatment for photophobia in migraine.
Show BibTeX
@article{e_2018_transcranial_static_magnetic_field_1758,
author = {Lozano-Soto E and Soto-León V and Sabbarese S and Ruiz-Alvarez L and Sanchez-Del-Rio M and Aguilar J and Strange BA and Foffani G and Oliviero A.},
title = {Transcranial static magnetic field stimulation (tSMS) of the visual cortex decreases experimental photophobia.},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1177/0333102417736899},
url = {https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0333102417736899},
}