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Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the Visual Cortex with Wide-View Retinotopic Stimulation
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Abnormal visual processing in migraine with aura: a study of steady-state visual evoked potentials
Koichi Shibata1, Kiyomi Yamane, Kuniaki Otuka
1Department of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Medical Center East, 2-1-10 Nishiogu, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, 116-8567, Japan. kshbtgm@dnh.twmu.ac.jp
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|May 23, 2008
Summary
Migraine patients show abnormal visual cortex excitability between attacks. This heightened response, particularly in migraine with aura (MA), suggests underlying visual processing differences.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Clinical Neurology
Background:
- The pathophysiology of visual aura in migraine remains unclear, despite observed interictal differences between migraine with aura (MA) and migraine without aura (MO).
- Understanding visual processing abnormalities is crucial for elucidating migraine mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate interictal visual processing in patients with MA and MO using steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs).
- To compare visual processing between MA, MO, and healthy controls (HC).
Main Methods:
- SSVEPs were recorded binocularly from 10 MA patients, 10 MO patients, and 20 HC using varying contrast and spatial frequencies of checkerboard gratings.
- Fourier analysis was performed on SSVEPs to determine the amplitude and phase of the second (2F) and fourth (4F) harmonic responses.
Main Results:
- Increased 2F amplitude was observed in both MA and MO patients compared to HC at low spatial frequency (0.5 cpd) and 5 Hz.
- Significantly increased 4F amplitude was found in MA patients compared to MO and HC at high spatial frequency (2.0 cpd) and 10 Hz, particularly with high contrast.
- No significant phase differences were detected between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Elevated SSVEP amplitudes suggest abnormal interictal excitability in the primary visual cortex of migraine patients.
- This abnormal excitability may extend to the visual association cortex in patients with MA.
