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Functional neuroimaging of primary headache disorders
Anna S Cohen1, Peter J Goadsby
1Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
|February 27, 2004
Summary
Neuroimaging reveals primary headache disorders like migraine are brain-driven, not vascular. Functional imaging studies help understand and target the brain
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Primary headache disorders, including migraine and cluster headache, were historically viewed as vascular conditions.
- Recent advancements in neuroimaging have shifted this perspective, indicating a primary brain origin for these headaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review functional imaging studies investigating the neural mechanisms of primary headache disorders.
- To highlight the role of advanced imaging techniques in understanding headache pathophysiology.
Main Methods:
- Review of functional imaging studies (PET, SPECT, fMRI) in migraine, cluster headache, and other headache syndromes.
- Inclusion of newer techniques like voxel-based morphometry and magnetic resonance spectrometry.
Main Results:
- Functional imaging provides growing evidence for a brain-based origin of primary headaches.
- These techniques are crucial for elucidating the neural substrates involved in various headache types.
Conclusions:
- Functional neuroimaging is essential for understanding the neural basis of primary headache disorders.
- Advanced imaging techniques offer potential targets for future headache therapies.