Yuen Fong, Chun and Takahashi, Chie and Braithwaite, J. J. (2019) Evidence for Distinct Clusters of Diverse Anomalous Experiences and Their Selective Association with Signs of Elevated Cortical Hyperexcitability. Consciousness and Cognition, 71. pp. 1-17. ISSN 1053-8100
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Abstract
Visual cortical hyperexcitability (VCH) is an underlying factor for aberrant visual experience. Utilizing an exploratory factor analysis (n=300), study 1 developed a revised proxy screening measure for VCH - the Cortical Hyperexcitability index – II(CHi-II). The result revealed a stable 3-factor solution. Study 2 tested both a migraine group and a control group on the CHi-II with a behavioural task that is known to reflect VCH. The migraine group produced significantly elevated scores two factors of CHi-II. Among the non-migraine group, subjects with high VCH also produced significantly elevated scores on CHi-II compared to those with low VCH. These findings support the utility of CHi-II as an indirect proxy measure for signs of VCH and reveal new categorical distinctions for the nature of the anomalous perceptions. These perceptions may well reflect diverse neurocognitive underpinnings leading to advancements in our understanding of aberrations in conscious experience.