Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026
10:39
3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
Increased limbic and brainstem activity during migraine attacks following olfactory stimulation.
1Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Neurology
|July 22, 2011
Summary
Migraine patients show increased brain activity in the pons when exposed to odors during attacks. This suggests a link between smell and migraine pain pathways.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- Migraine Research
Background:
- Migraine is often accompanied by sensory sensitivities, including to odors (osmophobia).
- Cortical olfactory processing is known to be dysfunctional in migraine patients.
- Limited neuroimaging data exists on brain responses to odors during migraine attacks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate neuronal processing of olfactory stimuli in migraine patients during and outside of acute attacks.
- To compare brain activity in migraineurs and healthy controls using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
Main Methods:
- Event-related fMRI was used to study 20 migraine patients and healthy controls.
- Olfactory stimulation with rose odor was administered.
- 13 patients were scanned within 6 hours of a spontaneous migraine attack.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed between interictal migraineurs and controls.
- During acute migraine attacks, patients showed heightened blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal in limbic structures (amygdala, insular cortices) and the rostral pons.
- These areas responded significantly to olfactory stimulation.
Conclusions:
- Elevated activity in the rostral pons is specifically associated with migraine pain.
- Olfactory input can trigger activity in the rostral pons during migraine attacks.
- This highlights a significant physiological connection between olfactory processing and the trigemino-nociceptive pathway in migraine pathophysiology.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:25Olfaction
The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
01:03Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure
The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
01:20Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway
Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...
The olfactory...
01:15Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System
The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...
01:22Pathophysiology of Vomiting
Vomiting is a complex physiological response to expel harmful or irritating substances from the body. It's a defensive mechanism triggered by stimuli like poisons, microbial toxins, cytotoxic drugs, and mechanical abdominal distension. The process is centrally coordinated by the vomiting (or emetic) center located in the medulla of the brainstem. This area, rich in muscarinic M1, histamine H1, neurokinin 1 (NK1), and serotonin 5-HT3 receptors, coordinates the act of vomiting through interaction...