Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
10:39

3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache

Published on: June 2, 2014

Migraine attacks the Basal Ganglia

Nasim Maleki1, Lino Becerra, Lauren Nutile

  • 1Department of Radiology, Children’s Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Molecular Pain
|September 23, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Migraine progression involves changes in the basal ganglia, a brain region crucial for pain processing. This study reveals differences in brain structure and function between patients with progressing versus non-progressing episodic migraine.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Episodic migraine attacks can increase in frequency, duration, and intensity over time.
  • The progression from episodic to chronic migraine is poorly understood.
  • This study investigates brain differences in migraine patients with progressing versus non-progressing disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare functional responses, connectivity, and brain morphology in episodic migraine patients.
  • To identify neurobiological differences associated with migraine progression.

Main Methods:

  • High-field human brain imaging techniques were employed.
  • Functional responses, functional connectivity, and brain morphology were analyzed.
  • Patients were grouped into low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) episodic migraine based on progression.

Main Results:

  • High-frequency (HF) episodic migraine patients showed lower pain responses in the caudate, putamen, and pallidum compared to low-frequency (LF) patients.
  • HF patients exhibited larger gray matter volume in the caudate nuclei bilaterally.
  • Functional connectivity analyses revealed further distinctions between LF and HF groups during pain response.

Conclusions:

  • Findings suggest a significant role for the basal ganglia in the pathophysiology of episodic migraine.
  • The basal ganglia's involvement in pain processing may be altered in migraine progression.
  • These results provide insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying migraine chronification.

More Related Videos

Dural Stimulation and Periorbital von Frey Testing in Mice As a Preclinical Model of Headache05:40

Dural Stimulation and Periorbital von Frey Testing in Mice As a Preclinical Model of Headache

Published on: July 29, 2021

Investigating Migraine-Like Behavior Using Light Aversion in Mice05:23

Investigating Migraine-Like Behavior Using Light Aversion in Mice

Published on: August 11, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Blockers01:28

Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Blockers

Ganglionic blockers inhibit autonomic activity by blocking nicotinic receptors in the autonomic ganglia, suppressing impulse transmission. These blockers lack selectivity between sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia and are ineffective as neuromuscular junction antagonists. They can be categorized into two groups:
Pathophysiology of Vomiting01:22

Pathophysiology 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...
Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay01:27

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay

The thalamus, often called “the gateway to the cerebral cortex,” is vital in processing and directing sensory and motor signals throughout the brain. Almost all inputs destined for the cerebral cortex, except for olfactory signals, are relayed through the thalamus. The thalamus is  a sophisticated relay station, channeling information from various brain regions to the cerebral cortex, as well as a filter, prioritizing certain signals over others based on current physiological states or needs.
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...
Brainstem01:19

Brainstem

The brainstem, located inferior to the brain and superior to the spinal cord, serves as a bridge between the cerebrum and the spinal cord. It plays a vital role in relaying information and controlling critical life functions. It comprises three primary regions: the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.
The Midbrain
The midbrain is located beneath the diencephalon and connects the cerebrum with the lower parts of the brain. The cerebral peduncles are prominent midbrain structures that house the...
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology01:26

Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...