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Neurophysiology of Migraine

  • Chapter
Pathophysiology of Headaches

Part of the book series: Headache ((HEAD))

Abstract

Migraine is a recurrent ictal headache disorder accompanied by multisensory symptoms and pain-free interictal periods of variable length between attacks. During the last few decades, many research groups have used a variety of neurophysiological techniques to search for biomarkers of subtle CNS – factors that may predispose individuals to migraine attacks. Researchers have demonstrated significant changes in bioelectrical activity in the brains of migraineurs that change during the migraine cycle, although controversy remain regarding the reliability, effect size and utility of several findings. Notably, various abnormalities of spinal, brainstem and cortical responsivity to external innocuous or noxious stimuli have been described in several migraine groups by several research teams.

Progress over the next few years will largely depend on gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying abnormal responsivity as measured by robust parameters. Also, the variations with the migraine cycle and its relationship with changes in thalamocortical rhythms and the activity of subcortico-(thalamo-)cortical pathways should be explored. Reliable biomarkers should be sought and identified by replication with thoroughly blinded studies, by collecting accurately clinical data and headache diaries before, during and after the test days and by prospectively monitoring the patients’ clinical fluctuations.

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Abbreviations

BAEP:

Brainstem auditory evoked potential

CAP:

Cyclic alternating pattern

CM:

Chronic migraine

CNV:

Contingent negative variation

CR:

Corneal reflex

CSP:

Cortical silent period

EEG:

Electroencephalography

EMG:

Electromyography

ERP:

Event-related potential

ES:

Exteroceptive suppression

HR:

H-response-increased photic driving amplitude

IDAP:

Intensity-dependent auditory evoked cortical potentials

LEP:

Laser evoked potential

MA:

Migraine with aura

MEP:

Motor evoked potentials

MO:

Migraine without aura

MOH:

Medication overuse headache

nBR:

Nociceptive blink reflex

NSM:

Non-sleep-related migraine

PAS:

Paired associative stimulation

PD:

Photic driving

PR:

Pattern reversal

PSG:

Polysomnography

PT:

Phosphene threshold

qEEG:

Quantitative electroencephalography

rTMS:

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

SM:

Sleep-related migraine

SSEP:

Somatosensory evoked potential

sTMS:

Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation

TCR:

Trigemino-cervical reflex

tDCS:

Transcranial direct-current stimulation

TMS:

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

TSR:

Trigemino-spinal reflex

VEP:

Visual evoked potential

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurophysiology of Vision and Neuroophthalmology, G.B. Bietti Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Gianluca Coppola

  2. Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome Polo Pontino, Latina, Italy

    Francesco Pierelli

  3. Department of Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Petter M. Omland & Trond Sand

Authors
  1. Gianluca Coppola
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  2. Francesco Pierelli
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  3. Petter M. Omland
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  4. Trond Sand
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Gianluca Coppola or Trond Sand .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Danish Headache Center Rigshospitalet and Glostrup Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark

    Messoud Ashina

  2. Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Pierangelo Geppetti

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Coppola, G., Pierelli, F., Omland, P.M., Sand, T. (2015). Neurophysiology of Migraine. In: Ashina, M., Geppetti, P. (eds) Pathophysiology of Headaches. Headache. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15621-7_8

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