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Marti-Marca A, Vilà-Balló A, Cerda-Company X, Ikumi N, Torres-Ferrus M, Caronna E, Gallardo VJ, Alpuente A, Torralba Cuello M, Soto-Faraco S, Pozo-Rosich P. Exploring sensory sensitivity, cortical excitability, and habituation in episodic migraine, as a function of age and disease severity, using the pattern-reversal task. J Headache Pain 2023; 24:104. [PMID: 37545005 PMCID: PMC10405481 DOI: 10.1186/s10194-023-01618-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Migraine is a cyclic, neurosensory disorder characterized by recurrent headaches and altered sensory processing. The latter is manifested in hypersensitivity to visual stimuli, measured with questionnaires and sensory thresholds, as well as in abnormal cortical excitability and a lack of habituation, assessed with visual evoked potentials elicited by pattern-reversal stimulation. Here, the goal was to determine whether factors such as age and/or disease severity may exert a modulatory influence on sensory sensitivity, cortical excitability, and habituation. METHODS Two similar experiments were carried out, the first comparing 24 young, episodic migraine patients and 28 healthy age- and gender-matched controls and the second 36 middle-aged, episodic migraine patients and 30 healthy age- and gender-matched controls. A neurologist confirmed the diagnoses. Migraine phases were obtained using eDiaries. Sensory sensitivity was assessed with the Sensory Perception Quotient and group comparisons were carried out. We obtained pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials and calculated the N1-P1 Peak-to-Peak amplitude. Two linear mixed-effects models were fitted to these data. The first model had Block (first block, last block) and Group (patients, controls) as fixed factors, whereas the second model had Trial (all trials) and Group as fixed factors. Participant was included as a random factor in both. N1-P1 first block amplitude was used to assess cortical excitability and habituation was defined as a decrease of N1-P1 amplitude across Blocks/Trials. Both experiments were performed interictally. RESULTS The final samples consisted of 18 patients with episodic migraine and 27 headache-free controls (first experiment) and 19 patients and 29 controls (second experiment). In both experiments, patients reported increased visual hypersensitivity on the Sensory Perception Quotient as compared to controls. Regarding N1-P1 peak-to-peak data, there was no main effect of Group, indicating no differences in cortical excitability between groups. Finally, significant main effects of both Block and Trial were found indicating habituation in both groups, regardless of age and headache frequency. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study yielded evidence for significant hypersensitivity in patients but no significant differences in either habituation or cortical excitability, as compared to headache-free controls. Although the alterations in patients may be less pronounced than originally anticipated they demonstrate the need for the definition and standardization of optimal methodological parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Marti-Marca
- Headache and Neurological Pain Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Department of Medicine, Universitat Autonoma Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adrià Vilà-Balló
- Headache and Neurological Pain Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Department of Medicine, Universitat Autonoma Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xim Cerda-Company
- Headache and Neurological Pain Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Department of Medicine, Universitat Autonoma Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nara Ikumi
- Headache and Neurological Pain Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Department of Medicine, Universitat Autonoma Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Torres-Ferrus
- Headache and Neurological Pain Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Department of Medicine, Universitat Autonoma Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Headache Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Edoardo Caronna
- Headache and Neurological Pain Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Department of Medicine, Universitat Autonoma Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Victor J Gallardo
- Headache and Neurological Pain Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Department of Medicine, Universitat Autonoma Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alicia Alpuente
- Headache and Neurological Pain Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Department of Medicine, Universitat Autonoma Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Headache Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia Torralba Cuello
- Multisensory Research Group, Center for Brain and Cognition, Pompeu Fabra University, 08005, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salvador Soto-Faraco
- Multisensory Research Group, Center for Brain and Cognition, Pompeu Fabra University, 08005, Barcelona, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), 08010, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia Pozo-Rosich
- Headache and Neurological Pain Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Department of Medicine, Universitat Autonoma Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- Headache Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
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Puledda F, Viganò A, Sebastianelli G, Parisi V, Hsiao FJ, Wang SJ, Chen WT, Massimini M, Coppola G. Electrophysiological findings in migraine may reflect abnormal synaptic plasticity mechanisms: A narrative review. Cephalalgia 2023; 43:3331024231195780. [PMID: 37622421 DOI: 10.1177/03331024231195780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cyclical brain disorder of sensory processing accompanying migraine phases lacks an explanatory unified theory. METHODS We searched Pubmed for non-invasive neurophysiological studies on migraine and related conditions using transcranial magnetic stimulation, electroencephalography, visual and somatosensory evoked potentials. We summarized the literature, reviewed methods, and proposed a unified theory for the pathophysiology of electrophysiological abnormalities underlying migraine recurrence. RESULTS All electrophysiological modalities have determined specific changes in brain dynamics across the different phases of the migraine cycle. Transcranial magnetic stimulation studies show unbalanced recruitment of inhibitory and excitatory circuits, more consistently in aura, which ultimately results in a substantially distorted response to neuromodulation protocols. Electroencephalography investigations highlight a steady pattern of reduced alpha and increased slow rhythms, largely located in posterior brain regions, which tends to normalize closer to the attacks. Finally, non-painful evoked potentials suggest dysfunctions in habituation mechanisms of sensory cortices that revert during ictal phases. CONCLUSION Electrophysiology shows dynamic and recurrent functional alterations within the brainstem-thalamus-cortex loop varies continuously and recurrently in migraineurs. Given the central role of these structures in the selection, elaboration, and learning of sensory information, these functional alterations suggest chronic, probably genetically determined dysfunctions of the synaptic short- and long-term learning mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Puledda
- Headache Group, Wolfson CARD, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Gabriele Sebastianelli
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome Polo Pontino ICOT, Latina, Italy
| | | | - Fu-Jung Hsiao
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shuu-Jiun Wang
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Ta Chen
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Marcello Massimini
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Coppola
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome Polo Pontino ICOT, Latina, Italy
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Coppola G, Ambrosini A. What has neurophysiology revealed about migraine and chronic migraine? HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2023; 198:117-133. [PMID: 38043957 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-823356-6.00003-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Since the first electroencephalographic recordings obtained by Golla and Winter in 1959, researchers have used a variety of neurophysiological techniques to determine the mechanisms underlying recurrent migraine attacks. Neurophysiological methods have shown that the brain during the interictal phase of an episodic migraine is characterized by a general hyperresponsiveness to sensory stimuli, a malfunction of the monoaminergic brainstem circuits, and by functional alterations of the thalamus and thalamocortical loop. All of these alterations vary plastically during the phases of the migraine cycle and interictally with the days following the attack. Both episodic migraineurs recorded during an attack and chronic migraineurs are characterized by a general increase in the cortical amplitude response to peripheral sensory stimuli; this is an electrophysiological hallmark of a central sensitization process that is further reinforced through medication overuse. Considering the large-scale functional involvement and the main roles played by the brainstem-thalamo-cortical network in selection, elaboration, and learning of relevant sensory information, future research should move from searching for one specific primary site of dysfunction at the macroscopic level, to the chronic, probably genetically determined, molecular dysfunctions at the synaptic level, responsible for short- and long-term learning mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Coppola
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome Polo Pontino - I.C.O.T., Latina, Italy
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Fong CY, Law WHC, Braithwaite JJ, Mazaheri A. Differences in early and late pattern-onset visual-evoked potentials between self- reported migraineurs and controls. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2019; 25:102122. [PMID: 31931401 PMCID: PMC6957816 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.102122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Migraineurs had an enhanced N2 evoked by gratings with a spatial frequency of 13 cpd. Migraineurs had an attenuated occipital late negativity (LN) for viewing all gratings. Hyperexcitable controls showed similar VEP pattern compared to migraineurs. Enhanced N2 deflection could be driven by cortical hyperexcitation. LN reduction could reflect inhibitory control during processing of aversive stimuli.
Striped patterns have been shown to induce strong visual illusions and discomforts to migraineurs in previous literature. Previous research has suggested that these unusual visual symptoms to be linked with the hyperactivity on the visual cortex of migraine sufferers. The present study searched for evidence supporting this hypothesis by comparing the visual evoked potentials (VEPs) elicited by striped patterns of specific spatial frequencies (0.5, 3, and 13 cycles-per-degree) between a group of 29 migraineurs (17 with aura/12 without) and 31 non-migraineurs. In addition, VEPs to the same stripped patterns were compared between non-migraineurs who were classified as hyperexcitable versus non-hyperexcitable using a previously established behavioural pattern glare task. We found that the migraineurs had a significantly increased N2 amplitude for stimuli with 13 cpd gratings but an attenuated late negativity (LN: 400 – 500 ms after the stimuli onset) for all the spatial frequencies. Interestingly, non-migraineurs who scored as hyperexcitable appeared to have similar response patterns to the migraineurs, albeit in an attenuated form. We propose that the enhanced N2 could reflect disruption of the balance between parvocellular and magnocellular pathway, which is in support of the cortical hyperexcitation hypothesis in migraineurs. In addition, the attenuation of the late negativity could reflect a top-down feedback mechanism to suppress visual processing of an aversive stimulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Yuen Fong
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | | | | | - Ali Mazaheri
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK; Centre of Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
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Coppola G, Di Lorenzo C, Parisi V, Lisicki M, Serrao M, Pierelli F. Clinical neurophysiology of migraine with aura. J Headache Pain 2019; 20:42. [PMID: 31035929 PMCID: PMC6734510 DOI: 10.1186/s10194-019-0997-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the findings of clinical electrophysiology studies aimed to investigate changes in information processing of migraine with aura patients. MAIN BODY Abnormalities in alpha rhythm power and symmetry, the presence of slowing, and increased information flow in a wide range of frequency bands often characterize the spontaneous EEG activity of MA. Higher grand-average cortical response amplitudes, an increased interhemispheric response asymmetry, and lack of amplitude habituation were less consistently demonstrated in response to any kind of sensory stimulation in MA patients. Studies with single-pulse and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have reported abnormal cortical responsivity manifesting as greater motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude, lower threshold for phosphenes production, and paradoxical effects in response to both depressing or enhancing repetitive TMS methodologies. Studies of the trigeminal system in MA are sparse and the few available showed lack of blink reflex habituation and abnormal findings on SFEMG reflecting subclinical, probably inherited, dysfunctions of neuromuscular transmission. The limited studies that were able to investigate patients during the aura revealed suppression of evoked potentials, desynchronization in extrastriate areas and in the temporal lobe, and large variations in direct current potentials with magnetoelectroencephalography. Contrary to what has been observed in the most common forms of migraine, patients with familial hemiplegic migraine show greater habituation in response to visual and trigeminal stimuli, as well as a higher motor threshold and a lower MEP amplitude than healthy subjects. CONCLUSION Since most of the electrophysiological abnormalities mentioned above were more frequently present and had a greater amplitude in migraine with aura than in migraine without aura, neurophysiological techniques have been shown to be of great help in the search for the pathophysiological basis of migraine aura.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Coppola
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome Polo Pontino, Corso della Repubblica, 79–04100 Latina, Italy
| | | | | | - Marco Lisicki
- Headache Research Unit, University of Liège, Department of Neurology-Citadelle Hospital, Boulevard du Douzième de Ligne, 1-400 Liège, Belgium
| | - Mariano Serrao
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome Polo Pontino, Corso della Repubblica, 79–04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Francesco Pierelli
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome Polo Pontino, Corso della Repubblica, 79–04100 Latina, Italy
- IRCCS – Neuromed, Via Atinense, 18-86077 Pozzilli, (IS) Italy
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Lisicki M, D'Ostilio K, Coppola G, Maertens de Noordhout A, Parisi V, Schoenen J, Magis D. Brain Correlates of Single Trial Visual Evoked Potentials in Migraine: More Than Meets the Eye. Front Neurol 2018; 9:393. [PMID: 29899730 PMCID: PMC5989125 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Using conventional visual evoked potentials (VEPs), migraine patients were found to be hyperresponsive to visual stimulus. Considering that a significant portion of neuronal activity is lost for analysis in the averaging process of conventional VEPs, in this study we investigated visual evoked responses of migraine patients and healthy volunteers using a different approach: single trial analysis. This method permits to preserve all stimulus-induced neuronal activations, whether they are synchronized or not. In addition, we used MRI voxel-based morphometry to search for cortical regions where gray matter volume correlated with single trial (st) VEP amplitude. Finally, using resting-state functional MRI, we explored the connectivity between these regions. Results: stVEP amplitude was greater in episodic migraine patients than in healthy volunteers. Moreover, in migraine patients it correlated positively with gray matter volume of several brain areas likely involved in visual processing, mostly belonging to the ventral attention network. Finally, resting state functional connectivity corroborated the existence of functional interactions between these areas and helped delineating their directions. Conclusions: st-VEPs appear to be a reliable measure of cerebral responsiveness to visual stimuli. Mean st-VEP amplitude is higher in episodic migraine patients compared to controls. Visual hyper-responsiveness in migraine involves several functionally-interconnected brain regions, suggesting that it is the result of a complex multi-regional process coupled to stimulus driven attention systems rather than a localized alteration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Lisicki
- Headache Research Unit, University of Liège, University Department of Neurology CHR Citadelle Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | - Kevin D'Ostilio
- Headache Research Unit, University of Liège, University Department of Neurology CHR Citadelle Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | - Gianluca Coppola
- Research Unit of Neurophysiology of Vision and Neuro-Ophthalmology, G. B. Bietti Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alain Maertens de Noordhout
- Headache Research Unit, University of Liège, University Department of Neurology CHR Citadelle Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | - Vincenzo Parisi
- Research Unit of Neurophysiology of Vision and Neuro-Ophthalmology, G. B. Bietti Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Jean Schoenen
- Headache Research Unit, University of Liège, University Department of Neurology CHR Citadelle Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | - Delphine Magis
- Headache Research Unit, University of Liège, University Department of Neurology CHR Citadelle Hospital, Liège, Belgium
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Nguyen BN, Lek JJ, Vingrys AJ, McKendrick AM. Clinical impact of migraine for the management of glaucoma patients. Prog Retin Eye Res 2015; 51:107-24. [PMID: 26232725 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2015.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Revised: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Migraine is a common and debilitating primary headache disorder that affects 10-15% of the general population, particularly people of working age. Migraine is relevant to providers of clinical eye-care because migraine attacks are associated with a range of visual sensory symptoms, and because of growing evidence that the results of standard tests of visual function necessary for the diagnosis and monitoring of glaucoma (visual fields, electrophysiology, ocular imaging) can be abnormal due to migraine. These abnormalities are measureable in-between migraine events (the interictal period), despite patients being asymptomatic and otherwise healthy. This picture is further complicated by epidemiological data that suggests an increased prevalence of migraine in patients with glaucoma, particularly in patients with normal tension glaucoma. We discuss how migraine, as a co-morbidity, can confound the results and interpretation of clinical tests that form part of contemporary glaucoma evaluation, and provide practical evidence-based recommendations for the clinical testing and management of patients with migraine who attend eye-care settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao N Nguyen
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Jia Jia Lek
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Algis J Vingrys
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Allison M McKendrick
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Fabjan A, Bajrović FF, Musizza B, Vidmar J, Štrucl M, Zaletel M. Study of neurovascular coupling during cold pressor test in patients with migraine. Cephalalgia 2014; 35:692-701. [PMID: 25330769 DOI: 10.1177/0333102414554661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 09/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Altered neurovascular coupling in migraineurs could be a consequence of impaired function of modulatory brainstem nuclei. The cold pressor test (CPT) should activate brainstem structures. We measured visually evoked cerebral blood flow velocity response (VEFR) to CPT in migraine. METHODS Twenty-three healthy volunteers and 29 migraineurs participated in the study. We measured arterial blood pressure, end-tidal CO2, heart rate and cerebral blood flow velocity in posterior and middle cerebral artery using transcranial Doppler. VEFR was calculated as cerebrovascular reactivity to photic stimulation before, during and after CPT. RESULTS In healthy individuals, there was a significant decrease in peak systolic VEFR from CPT phase to recovery phase (p < 0.05). There was an increase in mean VEFR from basal to CPT phase and a decrease from CPT to recovery phase, both significant (p < 0.05). End-diastolic VEFR increased from basal to CPT phase and decreased in recovery phase below the basal phase values, all changes significant (p < 0.05). In migraine, no statistically significant changes in peak systolic, mean or end-diastolic VEFRs were observed between phases (p > 0.05). The differences in phases in mean and end-diastolic VEFRs between the basal phase and the CPT phase and between the CPT phase and the recovery phase were significantly higher in healthy individuals (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The absence of the effect of CPT on VEFR in migraine is likely to be a consequence of impaired subcortical modulation of neurovascular coupling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrej Fabjan
- Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Fajko F Bajrović
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia University Medical Centre of Ljubljana, Department of Vascular Neurology, Slovenia
| | | | - Jernej Vidmar
- Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Martin Štrucl
- Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marjan Zaletel
- University Medical Centre of Ljubljana, Department of Vascular Neurology, Slovenia
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Nguyen BN, Vingrys AJ, McKendrick AM. The effect of duration post-migraine on visual electrophysiology and visual field performance in people with migraine. Cephalalgia 2013; 34:42-57. [DOI: 10.1177/0333102413498939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: In between migraine attacks, some people show visual field defects that are worse when measured closer to the end of a migraine event. In this cohort study, we consider whether electrophysiological responses correlate with visual field performance at different times post-migraine, and explore evidence for cortical versus retinal origin. Methods: Twenty-six non-headache controls and 17 people with migraine performed three types of perimetry (static, flicker and blue-on-yellow) to assess different aspects of visual function at two visits conducted at different durations post-migraine. On the same days, the pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and visual evoked response (PVER) were recorded. Results: Migraine participants showed persistent, interictal, localised visual field loss, with greater deficits at the visit nearer to migraine offset. Spatial patterns of visual field defect consistent with retinal and cortical dysfunction were identified. The PERG was normal, whereas the PVER abnormality found did not change with time post-migraine and did not correlate with abnormal visual field performance. Conclusions: Dysfunction on clinical tests of vision is common in between migraine attacks; however, the nature of the defect varies between individuals and can change with time. People with migraine show markers of both retinal and/or cortical dysfunction. Abnormal visual field sensitivity does not predict abnormality on electrophysiological testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao N Nguyen
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Algis J Vingrys
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Allison M McKendrick
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Australia
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Tedeschi G, Russo A, Tessitore A. Relevance of functional neuroimaging studies for understanding migraine mechanisms. Expert Rev Neurother 2013; 13:275-85. [PMID: 23448217 DOI: 10.1586/ern.13.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Advances in imaging have provided further insights into the complex migraine pathophysiology. Functional neuroimaging by means of PET and functional MRI studies have addressed crucial migraine-related issues, improving our understanding of the circuitry that may be involved in the generation, maintenance and recurrence of pain symptoms in migraine. In the last few years, a growing body of imaging literature has also explored pathophysiology of associated migraine symptoms. Of great interest will be the use of advanced imaging techniques to elucidate neural correlates of migraine prodromal, in order to identify clinical subgroups of migrainous subjects. However, the interpretation of the biological significance of these various functional changes could remain incomplete without a combination of expanding genomic information about neurochemical pathways and genetic polymorphisms linked to specific migraine subtypes. Hopefully, a more detailed picture of the migraine neurobiology will emerge from future neuroimaging studies, which may eventually lead to better and more rational treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gioacchino Tedeschi
- Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
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Nguyen BN, McKendrick AM, Vingrys AJ. Simultaneous retinal and cortical visually evoked electrophysiological responses in between migraine attacks. Cephalalgia 2012; 32:896-907. [PMID: 22800915 DOI: 10.1177/0333102412453953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE People with migraine often report aversion to flickering lights and show abnormal results on behavioural tasks that require the processing of temporal visual information. Studies have reported that the cortically evoked electrophysiological response to a flickering visual stimulus is abnormal; however, none have considered whether there is an underlying pre-cortical abnormality. In this cross-sectional study, we consider whether people with migraine have retinal and cortical electrophysiological abnormalities to flickering stimuli. METHODS Monocular transient (1 Hz) and steady-state (8.3 Hz) pattern reversal electroretinograms (PERGs) and pattern visual evoked responses (PVERs) were measured simultaneously in 45 people with migraine (26 without aura, 19 with aura) and 30 non-headache controls at a time between migraine attacks. RESULTS PERG amplitude and timing did not differ significantly between groups. Transient PVER amplitude was significantly reduced (28%) in the migraine with aura group compared to the controls F(2,72) = 3.6, p = 0.03). Both migraine groups showed significant reductions (32%, 39%) in steady-state PVER amplitude relative to controls (F(2,70) = 4.3, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS This study finds normal retinal processing of flickering stimuli in the presence of abnormal cortical function between migraine attacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao N Nguyen
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Australia
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12
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Shibata K, Yamane K, Nishimura Y, Kondo H, Otuka K. Spatial frequency differentially affects habituation in migraineurs: a steady-state visual-evoked potential study. Doc Ophthalmol 2011; 123:65-73. [PMID: 21769699 DOI: 10.1007/s10633-011-9281-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2011] [Accepted: 07/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A lack of habituation in visual-evoked potentials (VEPs) is the main abnormality observed in migraineurs. However, no study of steady-state VEPs has yet evaluated pattern-reversal stimuli with respect to habituation behavior or spatial frequency. The aim of this study was to clarify habituation behavior in migraineurs between attacks and to establish characteristics of VEPs in these patients. Steady-state VEPs were sequentially recorded as checkerboard patterns in four consecutive blocks from 12 patients with migraine without aura (MO), 12 patients with migraine with aura (MA), and 12 healthy controls (HC) at four spatial frequencies of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 cycles per degree (cpd) with a stimulus rate of 7.5 Hz (15 reversal/s). VEP amplitudes were consistently higher in migraineurs. However, habituation was not demonstrated in HCs, and migraineurs did not reveal a clear lack of habituation. MAs exhibited high-amplitude VEPs, depending on spatial frequency. In the MA patients, amplitude differences reached statistical significance at 2.0 cpd. The sequential amplitude changes at 0.5 cpd were significantly different in MAs compared with HCs. Migraine patients exhibited high-amplitude VEPs, which were dependent on spatial frequency, and may be related to altered excitability in pre-cortical and cortical visual processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Shibata
- Department of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Medical Center East, 2-1-10 Nishiogu, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, 116-8567, Japan.
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Chen WT, Lin YY, Fuh JL, Hämäläinen MS, Ko YC, Wang SJ. Sustained visual cortex hyperexcitability in migraine with persistent visual aura. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 134:2387-95. [PMID: 21729907 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awr157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Persistent aura without infarction, a rare migraine disorder, is defined by aura symptoms that persist for >1 week without radiological evidence of cerebral infarction. To unveil its pathophysiological mechanisms, this study used magnetoencephalography to characterize the visual cortex excitability in persistent aura by comparison with episodic and chronic migraine. We recruited six patients with persistent visual aura, 39 patients with episodic migraine [12 in ictal phase; 27 in interictal phase (with aura, n = 9; without aura, n = 18)], 18 patients with chronic migraine and 24 healthy controls. Five sequential blocks of 50 neuromagnetic prominent 100 ms responses were obtained, and the dynamic change in visual cortex excitability was evaluated by the percentage changes of individual mean prominent 100 ms amplitudes at blocks 2-5 compared with block 1, with a significant increase indicating potentiation. We found that in patients with persistent aura, there was significant potentiation during ictal periods (P = 0.009 and 0.006 at blocks 2 and 5, respectively), and the excitability change was inversely correlated with the duration of aura persistence (correlation coefficient -0.812, P = 0.050, block 2). The interictal recordings (n = 3) also showed potentiation. In terms of the other migraine spectrum disorders, persistent aura differed from episodic migraine in the presence of ictal potentiation. Persistent aura further differed from chronic migraine in the absence of interictal potentiation in chronic migraine. There was a higher percentage change of response amplitude at the end of stimulation (block 5) in persistent aura (43.3 ± 11.7) than in chronic migraine (-7.6 ± 5.5, P = 0.006) and ictal recordings of episodic migraine (-4.9 ± 9.6, P = 0.020). Normal control subjects had no significant response changes. This magnetoencephalographic study showed that the visual cortex in patients with persistent visual aura maintains a steady-state hyperexcitability without significant dynamic modulation. The excitability characteristic supports persistent visual aura as a nosological entity in migraine spectrum disorders and suggests a pathophysiological link to sustained excitatory effects possibly related to reverberating cortical spreading depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Ta Chen
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Peitou, Taipei 112, Taiwan
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14
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Li X, Lu Y, Li L, Chai X, Ren Q. Multi-channel visual evoked potential as an ancillary tool to diagnose intraorbital optic nerve lesions. Vet Ophthalmol 2010; 13:131-5. [PMID: 20447034 DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2010.00769.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Multi-channel visual evoked potential (MVEP) recording method was used to assist in diagnosing a 4-month-old Chinese Albino rabbit with an intraorbital mass. Subcutaneous MVEP of its both eyes were recorded simultaneously using 16 electrodes (4 x 4) multi-channel array. Analysis of the cortical potential landscapes (CPL) showed that the conduction function of right eye was remarkably impaired in terms of decreased amplitudes and prolonged latencies. Specific side-dominant distribution asymmetry of the decreased MVEP amplitudes indicated that the temporal side of the optic nerve (ON) was severely involved. Overall prolonged latencies of the CPL without side differences suggested that the functional impairment could have been caused by the mechanical compression exerted by an intraorbital mass. Surgical removal procedures confirmed that the mass was located temporally to the ON. Pathological examination provided a final diagnosis of a giant polycystic mucocele. Beyond its significance as a standard tool to assess functional changes of the visual pathway, MVEP recordings might assist locating intraorbital lesions that involve the ON by careful analysis of abnormal CPLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoliang Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800# Dongchuan Rd, Shanghai, 200240, China
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15
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Ambrosini A, Magis D, Schoenen J. Migraine – clinical neurophysiology. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2010; 97:275-93. [DOI: 10.1016/s0072-9752(10)97023-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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16
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Akben SB, Subasi A, Tuncel D. Analysis of EEG Signals Under Flash Stimulation for Migraine and Epileptic Patients. J Med Syst 2009; 35:437-43. [DOI: 10.1007/s10916-009-9379-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2009] [Accepted: 09/16/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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17
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Höffken O, Stude P, Lenz M, Bach M, Dinse HR, Tegenthoff M. Visual paired-pulse stimulation reveals enhanced visual cortex excitability in migraineurs. Eur J Neurosci 2009; 30:714-20. [PMID: 19674086 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.06859.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Migraine is a common ictal disorder with an interindividual heterogeneous characteristic, whose underlying mechanisms remain elusive. On the one hand migraine is associated with abnormal cortical hyperexcitability. On the other hand, studies reported lower amplitudes of visual-evoked potentials (VEPs) and concluded that low preactivation levels imply decreased excitability. Here we measured visual cortex excitability and paired-pulse suppression in subjects suffering from migraine without aura and in a group of aged- and gender-matched healthy subjects to address the relation between activation levels and excitability. To that aim, we analysed amplitudes of VEPs and paired-pulse suppression evoked by a paired-pulse stimulation paradigm using stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs) between 80 and 133 ms. We found that in migraineurs in the interictal state the amplitudes of the first VEP were reduced as compared with healthy subjects by approximately 20%. In the case of paired-pulse suppression comparable to healthy controls, the second response amplitude should be reduced as well, which was not the case. Instead, the ratio between the first and second VEP was higher than in healthy controls and did not depend on SOA in the range tested, which demonstrates reduced paired-pulse suppression and therefore implicates increased cortical excitability. Our data show that in migraineurs VEPs were reduced presumably due to reduced activation levels. However, paired-pulse suppression using short SOAs in the range of 100 ms or less was even higher than in normal subjects. Thus, our data show that signatures of both hyper- and hypoexcitability can be found depending on stimulation condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Höffken
- Department of Neurology, Ruhr-University Bochum, BG-Kliniken Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany.
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18
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Sand T, White LR, Hagen K, Stovner LJ. Visual evoked potential and spatial frequency in migraine: a longitudinal study. Acta Neurol Scand 2009:33-7. [PMID: 19566496 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2009.01211.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Reduced habituation of visual evoked potentials (VEP) has been reported in migraine. We aimed to study if preattack excitability changes were related to check size using a paired longitudinal design. MATERIALS AND METHODS Magnocellular and parvocellular functions were studied with monocular 31 and 62 checks in 33 adult migraine patients without aura (MwoA), 8 with aura (MA) and 31 controls. VEP was recorded in four blocks of 50 stimuli. N1P1 and P1N2 amplitudes were measured. Sessions were classified as preattack or interictal. RESULTS MA patients had significantly higher P1N2 and N1P1 amplitude than the controls and MwoA. VEP amplitude habituation was not found in controls. Migraine patients had significantly higher P1N2 amplitude before the attack compared with a paired interictal recording for large checks. CONCLUSIONS Cortical excitability is high in MA. Headache severity affects visual excitability. Increased P1N2 VEP amplitude before the attack suggests a cyclic decreased intracortical inhibition in extrastriate magnocellular pathways in migraine.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Sand
- Department of Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology and St Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
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Chen WT, Wang SJ, Fuh JL, Lin CP, Ko YC, Lin YY. Peri-ictal normalization of visual cortex excitability in migraine: an MEG study. Cephalalgia 2009; 29:1202-11. [PMID: 19558536 DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2982.2009.01857.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To delineate if the change in cortical excitability persists across migraine attacks, visual evoked magnetic fields (VEF) were measured in patients with migraine without aura during the interictal (n = 26) or peri-ictal (n = 21) periods, and were compared with 30 healthy controls. The visual stimuli were checkerboard reversals with four different check sizes (15', 30', 60' and 120'). For each check size, five sequential blocks of 50 VEF responses were recorded to calculate the percentage change of the P100m amplitude in the second to the fifth blocks in comparison with the first block. At check size 120', interictal patients showed a larger amplitude increment than controls [28.1 +/- 38.3% (s.d.) vs. 8.7 +/- 21.3%] in the second block and a larger increment than peri-ictal patients in the second (28.1 +/- 38.3% vs. -3.2 +/- 19.2%), fourth (22.7 +/- 31.2% vs. -5.7 +/- 22.3%) and fifth (20.5 +/- 30.4% vs. -10.8 +/- 30.1%) blocks (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference at other check sizes or between peri-ictal patients and controls. In conclusion, there may be peri-ictal normalization of visual cortical excitability changes in migraine that is dependent on the spatial frequency of the stimuli and reflects a dynamic modulation of cortical activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- W-T Chen
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 112 Taiwan
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20
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Sand T, Zhitniy N, White LR, Stovner LJ. Visual evoked potential latency, amplitude and habituation in migraine: A longitudinal study. Clin Neurophysiol 2008; 119:1020-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2008.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2007] [Revised: 12/24/2007] [Accepted: 01/23/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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21
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Abstract
Migraine is a very common disorder occurring in 20% of women and 6% of men. Central neuronal hyperexcitability is proposed to be the putative basis for the physiological disturbances in migraine. Since there are no consistent structural disturbances in migraine, physiological and psychophysical studies have provided insight into the underlying mechanisms. This is a review of the neurophysiological studies which have provided an insight to migraine pathogenesis supporting the theory of hyperexcitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- S K Aurora
- Centre for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, Canada.
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22
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Coppola G, Parisi V, Fiermonte G, Restuccia R, Pierelli F. Asymmetric distribution of visual evoked potentials in patients with migraine with aura during the interictal phase. Eur J Ophthalmol 2007; 17:828-35. [PMID: 17932863 DOI: 10.1177/112067210701700523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE One of the most commonly described electrocortical phenomena in patients with migraine is an increased interhemispheric asymmetry, in response to different sensory stimuli. This study aims to evaluate the bioelectrical activity of both occipital cortices in patients with migraine with visual aura (MA) during the interictal period, and its possible relationship with visual symptoms. METHODS The authors recorded visual evoked potentials (VEPs) simultaneously from the left (O1) and right (O2) occipital cortices (80% contrast 60', 30', 15', and 7.5' checkerboard stimuli reversed at 2 Hz) in 22 patients with MA and 20 control subjects. The main outcome measure was interhemispheric asymmetry (IA) for both implicit time and amplitude, defined as the difference between the left and right scalp derivation (in absolute values). RESULTS IA was significantly different in patients with MA with respect to controls when employing 60' (p<0.001) and 15' (p<0.05) checkerboard stimuli for implicit times, and 60' (p<0.05) checkerboard stimuli for amplitudes. On the other hand, IA was not statistically different (p>0.05) in patients with MA with respect to controls when employing 30' and 7.5' checkerboards for both implicit times and amplitudes, and 15' checkerboards for amplitudes. No correlations were found between IA and age, onset of disease, attack frequency, or side of headache/aura. CONCLUSIONS Patients with MA presented asymmetries in VEP responses not related to visual aura or to headache side during the pain-free phase. These abnormalities may be ascribed to abnormal visual information processing, resulting in a different cortical activation when both foveal and parafoveal stimuli are used.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Coppola
- G.B. Bietti Eye Foundation, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
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23
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24
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Magis D, Ambrosini A, Bendtsen L, Ertas M, Kaube H, Schoenen J. Evaluation and proposal for optimalization of neurophysiological tests in migraine: part 1--electrophysiological tests. Cephalalgia 2007; 27:1323-38. [PMID: 17970766 DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2982.2007.01440.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Neurophysiological testing has become a valuable tool for investigating brain excitability and nociceptive systems in headache disorders. Previous reviews have suggested that most neurophysiological tests have limited value for headache diagnosis, but a vast potential for exploring the pathophysiology of headaches, the central effects of certain pharmacological treatments and phenotype-genotype correlations. Many protocols, however, lack standardization. This meta-analytical review of neurophysiological methods in migraine was initiated by a task force within the EUROHEAD project (EU Strep LSHM-CT-2004-5044837-Workpackage 9). Most of the neurophysiological approaches that have been used in headache patients are reviewed, i.e. evoked potentials, nociception-specific blink reflex, single-fibre electromyography, neuroimaging methods (functional MRI, PET, and voxel-based morphometry) and the nitroglycerin attack-provoking test. For each of them, we summarize the results, analyse the methodological limitations and propose recommendations for improved methodology and standardization of research protocols. The first part is devoted to electrophysiological methods, the second to neuroimaging techniques and the NTG test.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Magis
- Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
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25
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Mazinani BAE, Waberski TD, van Ooyen A, Walter P. Prediction of visual evoked potentials at any surface location from a set of three recording electrodes. Doc Ophthalmol 2007; 116:207-16. [PMID: 17912566 DOI: 10.1007/s10633-007-9083-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2007] [Accepted: 09/17/2007] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of this study was to introduce a mathematical model which allows the calculation of a source dipole as the origin of the evoked activity based on the data of three simultaneously recorded VEPs from different locations at the scalp surface to predict field potentials at any neighboring location and to validate this model by comparison with actual recordings. In 10 healthy subjects (25-38, mean 29 years) continuous VEPs were recorded via 96 channels. On the base of the recordings at the positions POz', O1' and O2', a source dipole vector was calculated for each time point of the recordings and VEP responses were back projected for any of the 96 electrode positions. Differences between the calculated and the actually recorded responses were quantified by coefficients of variation (CV). The prediction precision and response size depended on the distance between the electrode of the predicted response and the recording electrodes. After compensating this relationship using a polynomial function, the CV of the mean difference between calculated and recorded responses of the 10 subjects was 2.8 +/- 1.2%. In conclusion, the "Mini-Brainmapping" model can provide precise topographical information with minimal additional recording efforts with good reliability. The implementation of this method in a routine diagnostic setting as an "easy-to-do" procedure would allow to examine a large number of patients and normal subjects in a short time, and thus, a solid data base could be created to correlate well defined pathologies with topographical VEP changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babac A E Mazinani
- Department of Ophthalmology, Universitätsklinikum Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, Aachen, 52057, Germany.
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Shibata K, Yamane K, Iwata M, Ohkawa S. Evaluating the effects of spatial frequency on migraines by using pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials. Clin Neurophysiol 2005; 116:2220-7. [PMID: 16043404 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2005.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2004] [Revised: 05/16/2005] [Accepted: 05/29/2005] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To clarify the effects of contrast and spatial frequency in patients with migraine by means of pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (PVEPs). METHODS PVEPs were obtained from 14 patients who had migraine without aura (MO), 11 patients who had migraine with aura (MA), and 25 age-matched, healthy controls (CO). PVEPs were binocularly recorded with a reversal rate of 1Hz (2 reversal/s) at 3 spatial frequencies (0.5, 1.0 and 4.0 cpd) at high (98%), medium (83%) and low (29%) contrast. N75, P100 and N135 latency and the amplitudes of P50-N75, N75-P100 and P100-N135 were analyzed. RESULTS Increased amplitude of PVEPs in patients with migraines were revealed at 3 different spatial frequencies in all components. The MO and the MA showed increased amplitudes mostly in high contrasts (98%). These findings were detected more at a high spatial frequency (4.0 cpd) than at a low spatial frequency (0.5 cpd). Increased amplitude with prolonged latency of N135 were found both in MO and MA at 4.0 cpd. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that pattern stimuli of high contrasts may be particularly effective in uncovering abnormal cortical reactivity which may be modified in the primary and secondary visual cortex in the interictal state of migraine. SIGNIFICANCE These findings indicate that there is abnormal visual cortex processing in patients with migraine.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Shibata
- Department of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, School of Medicine, Daini Hospital, 2-1-10 Nishiogu, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo 116-8567, Japan.
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Coutin-Churchman P, Padrón de Freytez A. Vector analysis of visual evoked potentials in migraineurs with visual aura. Clin Neurophysiol 2004; 114:2132-7. [PMID: 14580611 DOI: 10.1016/s1388-2457(03)00229-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the capability of vector analysis of visual evoked potentials (VEPs) for revealing alterations in posterior visual pathways in migraineurs with visual aura. METHODS VEPs to pattern reversal (PR) and LED goggle stimulation were obtained in 23 patients suffering from migraine with visual aura, in an orthogonal Fpz-Oz and T3-T4 montage and displayed as a two-channel Lissajous' trajectory. VEP latency and amplitude at Fpz-Oz, bc segment amplitude (V) and bc vector orientation angle (theta) were compared with a previously collected normative database for individual assessment, and group comparisons with the previously collected normal sample were made. Electrophysiological measures were also correlated with time from onset of disease and from the last crisis, and with the side of symptoms. RESULTS No individual alterations in VEP latency or amplitude were observed. However, 36.4% of patients showed alterations in vector orientation to PR and 78% to LED goggles. Group differences with respect to normal subjects were found not only in vector orientation but also in midline VEP and V, only for PR stimulation. A significant relationship was found between the laterality of vector deviation and the laterality of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Vector analysis of VEP revealed alterations possibly corresponding to asymmetrical visual cortex activation in migraineurs with visual aura, mainly to diffuse light stimulation. SIGNIFICANCE An electrophysiological parameter of individual value for revealing asymmetric activation of visual cortex in migraineurs is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Coutin-Churchman
- Hospital Universitario de Los Andes, Unidad de Neurología, 5101 Mérida, Venezuela.
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Ambrosini A, de Noordhout AM, Sándor PS, Schoenen J. Electrophysiological studies in migraine: a comprehensive review of their interest and limitations. Cephalalgia 2003; 23 Suppl 1:13-31. [PMID: 12699456 DOI: 10.1046/j.1468-2982.2003.00571.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Electrophysiological methods may help to unravel some of the pathophysiological mechanisms of migraine. Lack of habituation is the principal and most reproducible interictal abnormality in sensory processing in migraineurs. It is found in evoked potential (EP) studies for every stimulation modality including nociceptive stimuli, and it is likely to be responsible for the increased intensity dependence of EP. We have hypothesized that deficient EP habituation in migraine could be due to a reduced preactivation level of sensory cortices because of hypofunctioning subcortico-cortical aminergic pathways. This is not in keeping with simple hyperexcitability of the cortex, which has been suggested by some, but not all, studies of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). A recent study of the effects of repetitive TMS on visual EP strongly supports the hypothesis that migraine is characterized by interictal cortical hypoexcitability. With regard to pain mechanisms in migraine, electrophysiological studies of trigeminal pathways using nociceptive blink and corneal reflexes have confirmed that sensitization of central trigeminal nociceptors occurs during migraine attacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ambrosini
- Headache Clinic, INM Neuromed, IRCCS, Pozzilli (Isernia),Italy
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Schoenen J, Ambrosini A, Sándor PS, Maertens de Noordhout A. Evoked potentials and transcranial magnetic stimulation in migraine: published data and viewpoint on their pathophysiologic significance. Clin Neurophysiol 2003; 114:955-72. [PMID: 12804664 DOI: 10.1016/s1388-2457(03)00024-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Migraine is a disorder in which central nervous sytem dysfunction might play a pivotal role. Electroneurophysiology seems thus particularly suited to study its pathophysiology. We have extensively reviewed evoked potential and transcranial magnetic stimulation studies performed in migraineurs in order to identify their pathophysiologic significance. Publications available to us were completed by a Medline search. Retrieved and personal data were compared with respect to methodology and interpreted according to present knowledge on cortical information processing. Results are in part contradictory which appears to be method-, patient- and disease- related. Nonetheless, both evoked potential and transcranial magnetic stimulation studies demonstrate that the cerebral cortex, and possibly subcortical structures, are dysfunctioning interictally in both migraine with and without aura. These electrophysiologic abnormalities tend to normalise just before and during an attack and some of them seem to have a clear familial and predisposing character. Besides the studies of magnetophosphenes which have yielded contrasting results, chiefly because the method is not sufficiently reliable, most recent electrophysiologic investigations of cortical activities in migraine favour deficient habituation and decreased preactivation cortical excitability as the predominant interictal dysfunctions. We propose that the former is a consequence of the latter and that it could favour both interictal cognitive disturbances as well as a cerebral metabolic disequilibrium that may play a role in migraine pathogenesis. To summarize, electrophysiologic studies demonstrate in migraine between attacks a cortical, and possibly subcortical, dysfunction of which the hallmark is deficient habituation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Schoenen
- University Department of Neurology, CHR Citadelle, Blvd du XIIèmede Ligne, 1-B-4000, Liège, Belgium.
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Benedek K, Tajti J, Janáky M, Vécsei L, Benedek G. Spatial contrast sensitivity of migraine patients without aura. Cephalalgia 2002; 22:142-5. [PMID: 11972583 DOI: 10.1046/j.1468-2982.2002.00351.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Visual disturbances are frequent symptoms in migraine. Since there is a possibility of separate damage in the magno- or parvo-cellular visual pathway in migraine patients, we performed a study including the measurement of static and dynamic spatial contrast sensitivity on 15 patients suffering from migraine without aura under photopic and scotopic conditions. Fifteen healthy volunteers without primary headache served as controls. The results revealed a marked decrease in contrast sensitivity at low spatial frequencies in the migraine patients. Spatial contrast sensitivity demonstrated some lateralization, as the sensitivity to low spatial frequencies obtained through separate eyes showed significantly larger side-differences in migraine patients than in control subjects. These findings suggest that the mechanisms responsible for vision at low spatial frequencies are impaired in migraine patients. This might indicate impaired function of the magnocellular pathways in this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Benedek
- Department of Neurology, University of Szeged, Hungary
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31
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Yilmaz M, Bayazit YA, Erbagci I, Pençe S. Visual evoked potential changes in migraine. Influence of migraine attack and aura. J Neurol Sci 2001; 184:139-41. [PMID: 11239947 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-510x(00)00503-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the visual evoked potential (VEP) changes in migraines with and without aura. STUDY DESIGN A clinical study in which the VEP results of 45 migraineurs (study group) and 22 healthy volunteers (control group) were compared. Of 45 migraineurs, 29 had migraine with aura (MA) and 16 had migraine without aura (MOA), and they were examined both during and between the migraine attacks. METHODS The patients and healthy controls underwent VEP assessment. On VEP recording, mono-ocular stimulation was performed by means of the pattern reversal check board. The latencies of N1, P1 and N2, and the N1--P1 amplitude were noted. The following comparisons were made between NI, P1 and N2 latencies and N1--P1 amplitudes of the migraine and control groups; during and between attack the VEP results of the patients with MA and MOA. RESULTS The VEP results of the migraineurs and healthy controls were similar (P>0.05). The during attack results of MA, during and between attack results of MOA, and the results of the control group were also similar (P>0.05). N2 latency significantly elongated in patients with MA in the attack free period than it was during the attack (P=0.01), and was also longer than it was in the control group (P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS There is involvement of the visual pathway in MA rather than MOA, and differentiation between these subtypes of the migraine disease may be performed on the basis of VEP findings manifesting by the prolongation of the N2 wave latency. This contention should be confirmed by further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Yilmaz
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Kolejtepe, Gaziantep, Turkey
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32
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Sand T, Vingen JV. Visual, long-latency auditory and brainstem auditory evoked potentials in migraine: relation to pattern size, stimulus intensity, sound and light discomfort thresholds and pre-attack state. Cephalalgia 2000; 20:804-20. [PMID: 11167910 DOI: 10.1046/j.1468-2982.2000.00098.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We aimed to estimate primary sensory evoked potential (EP) amplitude, amplitude-intensity functions and habituation in migraine patients compared with healthy control subjects and to investigate the possible relation to check size, sound and light discomfort thresholds, and the time to the next attack. Amplitudes of cortical visual evoked potentials (VEP, check size 8' and 33'), cortical long latency auditory evoked potential (AEP NIP1; 40, 55 and 70 dB SL tones) and brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP wave IV-V; 40, 55 and 65 dB SL clicks) were recorded and analysed in a blind and balanced design. The difference between the response to the first and the second half of the stimulus sequence was used as a measure of habituation. Twenty-one migraine patients (16 women and five men, mean age 39.3 years, six with aura, 15 without aura) and 22 sex- and age-matched healthy control subjects were studied (18 women and four men, mean age 39.5 years). Low sound discomfort threshold correlated significantly with low levels of BAEP wave IV-V amplitude habituation (r = -0.30, P = 0.05). VEP an AEP amplitudes, habituation, and amplitude-intensity function (ASF) slopes did not differ between groups when ANOVA main factors were considered. Control group VEP habituation was found for small check stimuli (P = 0.04), while potentiation was observed for medium sized checks (P = 0.02). The eight migraine patients who experienced headache within 24 h after the test tended to have increased BAEP wave IV-V ASF slopes (P = 0.08). This subgroup did also have a significant VEP habituation to small checks (P = 0.04). No correlation was found between different modalities. These results suggest that: (i) VEP habituation/potentiation state and brainstem activatio state may depend on the attack-interval cycle in migraine; (ii) VEP habituation/ potentiation may depend on spatial stimulus frequency; (iii) phonophobia (and possibly photophobia) may depend more on subcortical (brainstem) function than on cortical mechanisms; (iv) low cortical preactivation in migraine could not be confirmed; (v) EP habituation and ASF analysis may reflect sensory modality-specific, not generalized, central nervous system states in migraine and healthy control subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Sand
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Trondheim University Hospital, Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
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Judit A, Sándor PS, Schoenen J. Habituation of visual and intensity dependence of auditory evoked cortical potentials tends to normalize just before and during the migraine attack. Cephalalgia 2000; 20:714-9. [PMID: 11167900 DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2982.2000.00122.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Between attacks, migraine with (MO) or without aura (MA) patients show deficient habituation of pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (PR-VEP) and a strong intensity dependence of auditory evoked cortical potentials (IDAP). Clinical observations of migraine prodromes and previously published electrophysiological studies suggest that cortical information processing may vary in close temporal relationship to the attack. We studied PR-VEP and IDAP just before (11 MO pts), during (23 MO, 3 MA), 1 day following (27 MO, 1 MA) and 2 days following (14 MO) a migraine attack. The results were compared with a large group of MO patients recorded at a distance of at least 3 days from an attack (n = 66 for IDAP; n = 39 for VEP). Patients recorded the day before the attack had on average an habituation of -13.6+/-20.5% (mean +/- SD) between the 5th and 1st block of 100 averaged VEP responses and a flat (0.38+/-1.06 microV/10 dB) amplitude-stimulus intensity function (ASF) slope of the auditory evoked cortical potential. Both values were significantly different from those obtained in the attack interval (P=0.003; P=0.020). During the attack, VEP habituation was less pronounced (-0.17+/-26.2%) and ASF slopes remained flat (0.32+/-1.44 microV/10 dB; P=0.002 compared to interval). During the 2 days following the attack, VEP habituation was replaced by potentiation (+0.09+/-29.1% the 1st day; 19.5+/-45.7% the 2nd day) and ASF slopes increased markedly (0.87+/-1.39 and 1.14+/-1.12 microV/10 dB). The normalization of evoked cortical responses just before and during the attack, might reflect an increase in the cortical preactivation level due to enhanced activity in raphe-cortical serotonergic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Judit
- Department of Neurology, Semmelweis University of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the possible influence of the duration of migraine on pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials. METHODS An investigation was conducted in 49 patients with migraine without aura according to the International Headache Society criteria. Twenty-two of these patients had had migraine for 2 years or less (group 1), and the other 27 patients had had the disease for 10 years or more (group 2). The control group consisted of 17 healthy subjects. RESULTS Comparison of the mean P100 latency and amplitude showed no significant difference among the groups. There was, however, a good negative correlation between age and latency (r = -0.59, P =.003) in group 1, but no such correlation was observed for group 2 or the control group. CONCLUSIONS It was concluded that the duration of migraine has no influence on pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials and that the pathogenesis of early- and late-onset migraine may be different.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Yücesan
- Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Turkey
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Shibata K, Osawa M, Iwata M. Simultaneous recording of pattern reversal electroretinograms and visual evoked potentials in migraine. Cephalalgia 1997; 17:742-7. [PMID: 9399003 DOI: 10.1046/j.1468-2982.1997.1707742.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
We recorded full-field pattern reversal electroretinograms (PERGs) and visual evoked potentials (PVEPs) simultaneously in 15 migraine with aura, 14 migraine without aura patients during the interictal period, and in 23 sex- and age-matched normal subjects. All subjects had normal visual fields. The visual aura in all patients was hemianopsia or fortification spectra. Neither migraine group showed significant differences from normal in latency and amplitude of PERGs. In migraine with aura, the amplitudes of PVEPs in classic migraine at the mid-occipital electrode were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than normal. PVEP amplitudes were significantly (p < 0.01) higher on the contralateral side of the aura than the ipsilateral side in both visual aura and normal subjects, but there was no significant difference in latency. This high amplitude and asymmetry of PVEPs may contribute to defective inhibition between interhemispheric visual occipital areas or striate and peristriate areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Shibata
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Women's Medical College, Japan
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Rossi LN, Pastorino GC, Bellettini G, Chiodi A, Mariani E, Cortinovis I. Pattern reversal visual evoked potentials in children with migraine or tension-type headache. Cephalalgia 1996; 16:104-6. [PMID: 8665575 DOI: 10.1046/j.1468-2982.1996.1602104.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Pattern reversal visual evoked potentials were recorded in 71 children with different types of migraine (e.g. migraine with aura, migraine without aura) or tension-type headache and in 19 controls (mean age of both groups 9 years). P100 latencies were comparable in all three groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- L N Rossi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Milan, Italy
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