Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
07:24
Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane
Published on: August 22, 2025
Vestibular migraine: clinical aspects and pathophysiology.
Joseph M Furman1, Dawn A Marcus, Carey D Balaban
1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. furmanjm@upmc.edu
The Lancet. Neurology
|June 18, 2013
Summary
Vestibular migraine, a distinct condition causing vertigo and migraine symptoms, requires overlapping symptoms for diagnosis. Treatment strategies are similar to those for migraine headaches, pending further research.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Ophthalmology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Vestibular migraine is increasingly recognized as a distinct neurological disorder.
- It accounts for a significant number of patients presenting with vestibular symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the diagnostic criteria for vestibular migraine.
- To explore the potential pathophysiology and current treatment approaches.
Main Methods:
- Diagnostic criteria involve a temporal overlap of vestibular and migraine symptoms.
- Physical examination and lab tests are used to exclude other vestibular disorders.
- Pathophysiology is inferred from neuroanatomical and neurochemical pathways.
Main Results:
- A temporal link between vestibular issues (vertigo, head-movement intolerance) and migraine features (headache, photophobia, phonophobia) is key for diagnosis.
- Normal physical exams and lab results are typical, aiding differential diagnosis.
- The underlying mechanisms may involve central vestibular pathways and neurochemical modulation.
Conclusions:
- Vestibular migraine is a recognized entity requiring specific diagnostic criteria.
- While pathophysiology is not fully elucidated, it likely involves complex neural pathways.
- Current treatment options are extrapolated from standard migraine management due to a lack of specific trials.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Equilibrium and Balance
The inner ear assumes dual functionalities of auditory perception and equilibrium maintenance. The vestibule is the organ responsible for balance. This organ contains mechanoreceptors, specifically hair cells, endowed with stereocilia, which aid in deciphering information regarding the position and motion of our heads. Two intrinsic components, the utricle and saccule, help perceive head position, while the semicircular canals track head movement. Neurological messages initiated in the...
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...
01:29Increased Intracranial Pressure ll: Pathophysiology
Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) refers to a potentially life-threatening rise in pressure inside the skull. This usually happens when there is a major change in the volume of brain tissue, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the three components inside the skull. According to the Monro-Kellie doctrine, if the volume of one component increases, the volumes of the other components must decrease to maintain normal pressure. If this does not happen, ICP rises.The process often begins with...
01:29The Vestibular System
The vestibular system is a set of inner ear structures that provide a sense of balance and spatial orientation. This system is comprised of structures within the labyrinth of the inner ear, including the cochlea and two otolith organs—the utricle and saccule. The labyrinth also contains three semicircular canals—superior, posterior, and horizontal—that are oriented on different planes.
01:22Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology
Vasogenic edema is a major form of cerebral edema characterized by abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain’s extracellular space due to disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a specialized structure composed of endothelial cells connected by tight junctions, supported by astrocytic endfeet and a basement membrane. Under normal conditions, it tightly regulates the movement of ions, proteins, and solutes between the bloodstream and brain parenchyma. When this barrier loses...
01:26Bacterial 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...