Measuring critical flicker fusion frequency in chronic migraine
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Measuring critical flicker fusion frequency in chronic migraine
IRAS ID
257882
Contact name
Anne Gowing
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research and Innovation Leeds Teaching Hospitals
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 1 days
Research summary
Chronic migraine is a common and often disabling disorder affecting roughly 2% of the population. The critical flicker fusion frequency (CFFF) is the point at which an observer perceives a previously flickering light source to be stable and no longer flickering. This occurs when the frequency of the flicker surpasses that which the human brain is able to perceive. The CFFF is known to be lower in medical conditions affecting the brain such as hepatic encephalopathy and demonstrating this has been shown to be potentially useful diagnostically. The effect of migraine on the CFFF is not well studied to date. Some studies have suggested that the CFFF is also reduced in episodic migraine, more so in patients without aura. Even so, evidence is scarce with no studies reporting specifically on chronic migraine. We propose to recruit patients with a diagnosis of chronic migraine from routine outpatient headache clinics. Patients will be asked to take part in a short session in which a headset that provides constant flickering light at pre-designated frequencies is used to establish their CFFF. By also recruiting age-matched healthy controls and performing the same tests we hope to ascertain whether or not the CFFF is affected in chronic migraine and, if so, postulate on potential clinical uses for the technology.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0438
Date of REC Opinion
30 Aug 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion