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3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
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Published on: June 2, 2014

Is migraine a lateralization defect?

Jani Kaaro1, Timo Partonen, Paulami Naik

  • 1AV-Torppa Oy, Lohja bNational Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland.

Neuroreport
|August 13, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Migraine and patent foramen ovale (PFO) may stem from a shared embryonic lateralization defect. Pineal gland asymmetry in migraineurs supports this theory, suggesting a developmental origin for migraine and its PFO association.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Migraine frequently co-occurs with patent foramen ovale (PFO).
  • Surgical PFO closure has not consistently proven effective for migraine treatment.
  • A potential link between PFO, migraine, and embryonic development warrants investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the hypothesis that migraine and PFO are independent manifestations of a lateralization defect during embryonic development.
  • To investigate the association between migraine and pineal gland asymmetry as a potential indicator of lateralization defects.

Main Methods:

  • Brain scans were used to measure the absolute displacement of the pineal gland, a midline structure.
  • Pineal gland asymmetry was compared between 39 individuals with migraine and 26 healthy controls.

Main Results:

  • A statistically significant asymmetry of the pineal gland was observed in individuals with migraine compared to controls.
  • This finding suggests a potential disruption in the typical midline positioning of brain structures in migraineurs.

Conclusions:

  • The data support the hypothesis that migraine and its association with PFO may originate from a lateralization defect during embryogenesis.
  • Abnormal serotonin regulation during development could be a contributing factor to this lateralization defect and subsequent migraine development.

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