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Where does a migraine attack originate? In the brainstem

  • Biological Psychiatry - CONy Pro/Con debate
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Abstract

Migraine is a common, paroxysmal, highly disabling primary headache disorder. The origin of migraine attacks is enigmatic. Numerous clinical and experimental results suggest that the activation of distinct brainstem nuclei is crucial in its pathogenesis, but the primary cause of this activation is not fully understood. We conclude that the initialization of a migraine attack can be explained as an altered function of the neuronal elements of the brainstem nuclei. In light of our findings and the literature data, we can assume that migraine is a subcortical disorder of a specific brainstem area.

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Acknowledgments

This study is supported by ETT 026-04 and TÁMOP-4.2.1./B-09/1/KONV-2010-0005 and the Neuroscience Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and University of Szeged.

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  1. Department of Neurology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Centre, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, Szeged, 6725, Hungary

    J. Tajti, D. Szok, Á. Párdutz, B. Tuka, A. Csáti, A. Kuris & L. Vécsei

  2. Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Szeged, 6726, Hungary

    J. Toldi

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Tajti, J., Szok, D., Párdutz, Á. et al. Where does a migraine attack originate? In the brainstem. J Neural Transm 119, 557–568 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-012-0788-9

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