Magnetoencephalographic fields from patients with spontaneous and induced migraine aura

We investigate and characterize the magnetoencephalographic waveforms from patients during spontaneous and visually induced migraine aura. Direct current neuromagnetic fields were measured during spontaneous onset of migraine auras in 4 migraine patients, and compared with recordings from 8 migraine‐with‐aura patients and 6 normal controls during visual stimulation of the occipital cortex. Complex direct current magnetoencephalographic shifts, similar in waveform, were observed in spontaneous and visually induced migraine patients, but not in controls. Two‐dimensional inverse imaging showed multiple cortical areas activated in spontaneous and visually induced migraine aura patients. In normal subjects, activation was only observed in the primary visual cortex. Results support a spreading, depression‐like neuroelectric event occurring during migraine aura that can arise spontaneously or be visually triggered in widespread regions of hyperexcitable occipital cortex.

[1]  S. M. Bowyer,et al.  Analysis of MEG signals of spreading cortical depression with propagation constrained to a rectangular cortical strip II. Gyrencephalic swine model , 1999, Brain Research.

[2]  J. E. Moran,et al.  Analysis of MEG signals of spreading cortical depression with propagation constrained to a rectangular cortical strip I. Lissencephalic rabbit model , 1999, Brain Research.

[3]  Y. Cao,et al.  The Occipital Cortex Is Hyperexcitable in Migraine: Experimental Evidence , 1999, Headache.

[4]  Yue Cao,et al.  Functional MRI-BOLD of visually triggered headache in patients with migraine. , 1999, Archives of neurology.

[5]  K. Welch,et al.  Transcranial magnetic stimulation confirms hyperexcitability of occipital cortex in migraine , 1998, Neurology.

[6]  T. Olsen,et al.  Pathophysiology of the migraine aura: the spreading depression theory. , 1995, Brain : a journal of neurology.

[7]  R. Ilmoniemi,et al.  Magnetoencephalography-theory, instrumentation, and applications to noninvasive studies of the working human brain , 1993 .

[8]  N. Tepley,et al.  Magnetic fields associated with spreading depression in anaesthetised rabbits , 1991, Brain Research.

[9]  N. Ramadan,et al.  The concept of migraine as a state of central neuronal hyperexcitability. , 1990, Neurologic clinics.

[10]  N. Tepley,et al.  Magnetoencephalographic Studies of Migraine , 1990, Headache.

[11]  Y. Okada.  Magnetoencephalography as a noninvasive tool for electrophysiological characterization of auras in classic migraine. , 1990, Advances in neurology.

[12]  Charles Nicholson,et al.  Magnetic field associated with spreading depression: a model for the detection of migraine , 1988, Brain Research.

[13]  Classification and diagnostic criteria for headache disorders, cranial neuralgias and facial pain. Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society. , 1988, Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache.

[14]  A. Hansen,et al.  Extracellular ion concentrations during spreading depression and ischemia in the rat brain cortex. , 1981, Acta physiologica Scandinavica.

[15]  P. Milner.  Note on a possible correspondence between the scotomas of migraine and spreading depression of Leão. , 1958, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[16]  A. A. P. Leo,et al.  PIAL CIRCULATION AND SPREADING DEPRESSION OF ACTIVITY IN THE CEREBRAL CORTEX , 1944 .

[17]  A. A. Leão,et al.  SPREADING DEPRESSION OF ACTIVITY IN THE CEREBRAL CORTEX , 1944 .