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Migraine is Associated With Altered Processing of Sensory Stimuli

  • Migraine (R Cowan, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Migraine is associated with derangements in perception of multiple sensory modalities including vision, hearing, smell, and somatosensation. Compared to people without migraine, migraineurs have lower discomfort thresholds in response to special sensory stimuli as well as to mechanical and thermal noxious stimuli. Likewise, the environmental triggers of migraine attacks, such as odors and flashing lights, highlight basal abnormalities in sensory processing and integration. These alterations in sensory processing and perception in migraineurs have been investigated via physiological studies and functional brain imaging studies. Investigations have demonstrated that migraineurs during and between migraine attacks have atypical stimulus-induced activations of brainstem, subcortical, and cortical regions that participate in sensory processing. A lack of normal habituation to repetitive stimuli during the interictal state and a tendency towards development of sensitization likely contribute to migraine-related alterations in sensory processing.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Andrea M. Harriott declares no potential conflicts of interest.

Dr. Todd J. Schwedt reports grants from NIH K23NS070891, during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Allergan, personal fees from Zogenix, personal fees from Supernus, personal fees from Pfizer, grants from Merck.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Study Funding

NIH K23NS070891

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA

    Andrea M. Harriott

  2. Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 5777 East Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ, 85054, USA

    Todd J. Schwedt

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  1. Andrea M. Harriott
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  2. Todd J. Schwedt
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Correspondence to Todd J. Schwedt.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Migraine

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Harriott, A.M., Schwedt, T.J. Migraine is Associated With Altered Processing of Sensory Stimuli. Curr Pain Headache Rep 18, 458 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-014-0458-8

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