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Academic & R&D Work

Research Overview

Visual Snow Simulator is being developed as part of a planned PhD research programme in cybermedical systems. This page summarises the academic context, funding, and publication plan behind the app.

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PhD Candidature

Doctoral Research Programme

Admission Pending
Formal admission to the doctoral programme has not yet been confirmed in writing. The research plan, supervisory agreement, and Domus grant application have been submitted; written confirmation is pending from the institution.

Institution: Óbudai Egyetem — Applied Informatics and Applied Mathematics Doctoral School (AIAMDI), Budapest, Hungary
Programme: Applied Informatics — Cybermedical Systems (I.2)
Supervisor (proposed): Prof. Dr. Kovács Levente Adalbert
Co-supervisor (proposed): Dr. Bakó László, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania
Planned duration: 4 years — Autumn 2026 to Summer 2030
Candidate: Szigeti Péter (Peter Szigeti)

The proposed doctoral thesis centres on objective parameterisation of Visual Snow Syndrome (VSS) and the development of a closed-loop cybermedical diagnostic framework using multisensory digital therapies and biomarkers (VSVD vector matrix).

Cybermedical Systems KMP · Android · iOS · VR VSI Collaboration HL7 FHIR Standardisation
Institutional Affiliations

Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania

Role: Proposed co-supervising institution; planned IRB host for clinical pilot studies
Department: Faculty of Electrical Engineering — Department of Electrical Engineering, Târgu Mureș, Romania
Co-supervisor (proposed): Dr. Bakó László, Associate Professor
Candidate affiliation: Visual Snow Digital Health, Târgu Mureș, Romania

Dr. Bakó László provides proposed co-supervision with expertise in EEG signal processing and wavelet analysis, with prior collaborative work in neurophysiological measurement (MACRo 2013). Ethics approval for clinical pilot studies is planned through Sapientia's IRB, pending doctoral admission.

Sapientia EMTE Planned IRB Host EEG Signal Processing Wavelet Analysis
Funding

Domus Hungarica Scholarship — 2026

Awarded

The initial phase of this research is supported by the Domus Hungarica scholarship programme, awarded by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) to Hungarian researchers working outside Hungary's borders. The grant has been awarded and covers the first 10 months of research infrastructure and clinical pilot work (Autumn 2026 – Summer 2027).

The grant specifically funds:

  • Consolidation of the Visual Snow Simulator platform for research use
  • First observational clinical pilot (n=20) in collaboration with the Visual Snow Initiative (VSI)
  • EEG hardware acquisition (Muse S / OpenBCI Ganglion) for the closed-loop biomarker phase
  • Ethics approval at Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania
MTA Domus Hungarica 10-month term · 2026–2027 Clinical Pilot Funding
4-Year Research Plan

Doctoral Research Phases

The research advances in four sequential phases, each building on the previous. The app serves as the primary data collection, simulation, and therapy delivery platform throughout.

Phase 1
Months 1–10
Autumn 2026 – Summer 2027
Foundation & Measurement Model Platform consolidation and scientific grounding of the VSVD measurement model. Includes ethics approval, first clinical pilot (n=20, observational), and initial publications (P1, P3). Covered by the Domus Hungarica scholarship.
Phase 2
Months 11–24
Autumn 2027 – Autumn 2028
Closed-Loop Biometric System Design, implementation, and lab validation of EEG/HRV closed-loop biomarker integration. Real-time wavelet spectral analysis (alpha/theta dominance), HRV-based autonomic state estimation, and dynamic SessionSchema adaptation.
Phase 3
Months 25–38
Autumn 2028 – Summer 2029
AR/VR Extension & Expanded Clinical Trial Extension of the therapy engine to AR/VR via OpenXR (Meta Quest 3/3S). Expanded randomised controlled pilot (n=30) measuring acute VSS crisis interruption efficacy using VSVD delta, EEG alpha suppression, and HRV normalisation as outcome metrics.
Phase 4
Months 39–48
Autumn 2029 – Summer 2030
Dissertation, Validation & Standardisation Synthesis of clinical and engineering results. Doctoral dissertation submission. VSVD specification submitted as HL7 FHIR Observation profile; SaMD/MDR regulatory evaluation; final publication and open dataset release.
Planned Publications

Publication Roadmap (P1–P7)

Target: ≥2 Q1/Q2 journal articles for thesis defence. Two manuscripts are currently in active preparation (P1 and OVS); P2–P7 build on these across the four doctoral phases.

Pre-doctoral · 2026 · In preparation
Digital Phenotyping of Visual Snow Syndrome: A Simulation-Based Platform for Quantitative Symptom Assessment and Treatment Outcome Measurement
Szigeti P., DeStefano M.D. OD FCOVD — Optometry & Visual Performance (Perspective Article)
Co-authored with Matthew DeStefano OD, FCOVD (Visual Symptoms Treatment Center, Arlington Heights, IL, USA). Describes the clinical rationale, platform architecture, and utility of the simulation-based phenotyping approach as an adjunct for evaluating VSS treatments including TMS, neuro-optometric rehabilitation, chromatic filters, and syntonic phototherapy.
Manuscript in preparation
Pre-doctoral · 2026–2027 · In preparation
Open Visual Symptom Standard (OVS) v1.0 — An Open Schema for Machine-Readable Visual & Auditory Perception Symptoms
Szigeti P., Bakó L. — Target: IEEE HEALTHCOM, MedInfo, or JMIR Medical Informatics
Introduces OVS, a condition-agnostic, composable open schema standard for describing visual and auditory perception symptoms in structured, machine-readable form. Covers the base/extension hierarchy, normalized severity model, Open mHealth compatibility, and the VSS profile as the primary reference implementation. Positioned as the data interoperability foundation for VSVD and future HL7 FHIR mapping. Draft specification available at openvisual.org.
Specification draft complete · manuscript in preparation
P1 · 2026 · Phase 1
Digital Phenotyping of Visual Snow Syndrome (doctoral journal version)
Szigeti P., DeStefano M., Bakó L. — Optometry & Visual Performance
Expanded doctoral version building on the pre-doctoral perspective article, incorporating first clinical pilot data.
Planned
P2 · 2027 · Phase 1
Neuro-optometric Clinical Methodology for VSS Assessment
Szigeti P., Bakó L. et al. — Optometry & Visual Performance or Journal of Optometry
Planned
P3 · 2027 · Phase 1
VSVD Vector Matrix Specification (ISO/IEC TS Candidate)
Szigeti P., Bakó L. et al. — IEEE HEALTHCOM or MedInfo
Planned
P4 · 2028 · Phase 2 — Q1 Target
VSVD Full Specification with Clinical Validation
Szigeti P., Bakó L. et al. — npj Digital Medicine or Journal of Biomedical Informatics
Planned
P5 · 2029 · Phase 3 — Q1/Q2 Target
VR in the Clinical Context of Visual Snow Syndrome
Szigeti P., Bakó L. et al. — IEEE TNSRE or Frontiers in Neuroscience
Planned
P6 · 2029–2030 · Phase 3–4 — Q1/Q2 Target
Grounding Flow Efficacy RCT Pilot (n=30)
Szigeti P., Bakó L. et al. — Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
Planned
P7 · 2030 · Phase 4 — Q2 Target
Mobile EEG-based VSS Biomarker Detection via Wavelet Analysis
Szigeti P., Bakó L. et al. — Frontiers in Neuroscience or IEEE EMBC
Planned
Scientific Citations

Peer-Reviewed References

The simulator parameters, symptom models, and therapeutic approaches in the app are informed by the following peer-reviewed literature on Visual Snow Syndrome:

  • Puledda F, Schankin C, Goadsby PJ. Visual snow syndrome: A clinical and phenotypical description of 1,100 cases. Neurology. 2020;94(6):e564–74. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000008909
  • Schankin CJ, Maniyar FH, Digre KB, Goadsby PJ. 'Visual snow' – a disorder distinct from persistent migraine aura. Brain. 2014;137(Pt 5):1419–28. doi:10.1093/brain/awu050
  • Lauschke JL, Plant GT, Fraser CL. Visual snow: A thalamocortical dysrhythmia of the visual pathway? J Clin Neurosci. 2016;28:123–7. doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2015.12.001
  • Kondziella D, Olsen MH, Dreier JP. Prevalence of visual snow syndrome in the UK. Eur J Neurol. 2020;27(5):764–72. doi:10.1111/ene.14150
  • Puledda F, Ffytche D, Lythgoe DJ, O'Daly O, et al. Insular and occipital changes in visual snow syndrome: a BOLD fMRI and MRS study. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2020;7(3):296–306. doi:10.1002/acn3.50986
  • Tsang T, Shidlofsky C, Mora V. The efficacy of neuro-optometric visual rehabilitation therapy in patients with visual snow syndrome. Front Neurol. 2022;13:999336. doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.999336
  • Han MHE, Ciuffreda K, Rutner D. Historical, diagnostic, and chromatic treatment in visual snow syndrome: A retrospective analysis. Optom Vis Sci. 2023;100(5):328–33. doi:10.1097/OPX.0000000000002019
  • Ciuffreda KJ, Rutner D. Visual snow syndrome: Therapeutic implications. J Clin Med. 2025;14(17):6070. doi:10.3390/jcm14176070
  • Bessero A-C, Plant GT. Should 'visual snow' and persistence of after-images be recognised as a new visual syndrome? J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2014;85(9):1057–8. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2013-306827
  • Okamoto H, Stracke H, Stoll W, Pantev C. Listening to tailor-made notched music reduces tinnitus loudness and tinnitus-related auditory cortex activity. PNAS. 2010;107(3):1207–10. doi:10.1073/pnas.0911268107
  • Tosta S, Ferreira M, Lewine J, Anderson A. Individualized spectral filters alleviate persistent photophobia, headaches and migraines in active duty military and veterans following brain trauma. Brain Inj. 2024;38(3):177–85. doi:10.1080/02699052.2024.2309253
  • Gottlieb R, Wallace L. Syntonic phototherapy. Photomed Laser Surg. 2010;28(4):449–52. doi:10.1089/pho.2010.9933
  • DeStefano M. Resolution of visual snow syndrome symptoms through neuro-optometric rehabilitation, chromatic filters, and syntonic phototherapy: A case report. Optom Vis Perf. 2026;14(1):15–22.
  • Visual Snow Initiative. Visual Snow Diagnostic Criteria. June 2023. visualsnowinitiative.org

Legal & Medical Disclaimer

NOT MEDICAL ADVICE: The Visual Snow Data Project and its associated applications are experimental tools created for symptom tracking, visualization, and academic research. They are NOT medical devices. Nothing on this page or in the app constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a neurologist or qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical condition.