Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis01:20

Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis

Tachyphylaxis is described as a rapid decrease in response to a drug after repeated or continuous administration of the same drug dose. It is a phenomenon where the body becomes less responsive to a particular substance or intervention over time, requiring higher doses or stronger interventions to achieve the same effect. It results from adaptive changes in the body's receptors, signaling pathways, or physiological processes that occur in response to prolonged exposure to a stimulus.
Several...
Nociception01:44

Nociception

Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain. Thus, pain helps the...
Primary Motives: Sleep, Sex, and Pain Avoidance01:24

Primary Motives: Sleep, Sex, and Pain Avoidance

Primary motives such as sleep, sex, and pain avoidance are crucial drivers of behavior in humans and animals. These motives ensure survival, reproductive success, and overall well-being by prompting actions that meet essential bodily needs.
Sleep is a fundamental physiological drive that fosters a state of restfulness crucial for several bodily functions. It facilitates body restoration, the process by which the body repairs, rejuvenates, and maintains itself during sleep, including memory...
Hypersensitivities01:30

Hypersensitivities

Hypersensitivity, also known as a hypersensitivity reaction or allergic reaction, is a condition where the body's immune system reacts abnormally to a foreign substance. Such substances, that cause hypersensitivity are referred to as an allergen, could be something typically harmless to most people, like pollen or certain foods.
Types of Hypersensitivities
Hypersensitivity reactions are categorized into four types: Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4. Each type has a distinct mechanism...
GPCR Desensitization01:12

GPCR Desensitization

G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling plays a crucial role in cell functioning. GPCR desensitization is an equally essential process. It allows cells to respond to changing environments and regain sensitivity to new stimuli while preventing unnecessary stimulation when no longer needed. Prolonged exposure to stimuli leads to GPCR desensitization. It involves blocking the receptors from binding and activating additional G proteins. This inhibits activation of downstream effectors, thereby...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

White matter microstructural alterations in episodic cluster headache outside attacks: a tract-based spatial statistics study.

The journal of headache and pain·2026
Same author

Myoinositol and Selenium (MYSE) Supplementation Is Associated with Favorable Changes in Thyroid Parameters and Migraine Outcomes in Patients with Migraine and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Nutrients·2026
Same author

Building bridges in migraine management: consensus pathways on best practices across primary and specialist care in Italy.

Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology·2026
Same author

Mechanistic investigation of HMGB1 in an in vitro model of the trigeminovascular system under migraine-like conditions.

The journal of headache and pain·2026
Same author

Analysis of AQP4 SNPs and Their Association With REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and Hallucinations in Parkinson's Disease.

Molecular neurobiology·2025
Same author

Mood and Metabolism: A Bayesian Network Analysis of Depressive Symptoms in Major Depressive Disorder and Metabolic Syndrome.

Journal of personalized medicine·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 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

Habituation and sensitization in primary headaches.

Gianluca Coppola1, Cherubino Di Lorenzo, Jean Schoenen

  • 1Department of Neurophysiology of Vision and Neurophthalmology, G,B, Bietti Foundation IRCCS, Via Livenza 3, 00198, Rome, Italy. gianluca.coppola@gmail.com.

The Journal of Headache and Pain
|August 1, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Primary headaches like migraine and cluster headache show impaired habituation and heightened sensitization, indicating abnormal brain information processing. These neurophysiological changes offer insights into headache mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.

More Related Videos

Dural Stimulation and Periorbital von Frey Testing in Mice As a Preclinical Model of Headache
05:40

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 Mice
05:23

Investigating Migraine-Like Behavior Using Light Aversion in Mice

Published on: August 11, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 9, 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

Dural Stimulation and Periorbital von Frey Testing in Mice As a Preclinical Model of Headache
05:40

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 Mice
05:23

Investigating Migraine-Like Behavior Using Light Aversion in Mice

Published on: August 11, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Clinical Neurophysiology
  • Headache Pathophysiology

Background:

  • Habituation and sensitization are key to understanding central nervous system (CNS) information processing.
  • Primary headaches are functional brain disorders with abnormal stimulus responsivity.
  • These disorders exhibit distinct patterns of altered responsivity during interictal, pre-ictal, and ictal phases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and summarize electrophysiological data on stimulus responsivity in primary headaches.
  • To explore the neuronal substrates of information processing in migraine, tension-type headache, and cluster headache.
  • To identify potential pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic targets based on neurophysiological findings.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical neurophysiology studies examining evoked responses and reflexes.
  • Analysis of habituation and sensitization phenomena in different sensory modalities.
  • Investigation of thalamocortical dysrhythmia and supraspinal pain control systems.

Main Results:

  • Migraine: Lack of habituation in evoked responses, peaking pre-ictally; thalamocortical dysrhythmia implicated.
  • Tension-Type Headache (TTH): Deficient habituation in subgroups; evidence of central sensitization in chronic TTH.
  • Cluster Headache: Pronounced lack of habituation in brainstem reflexes and general pain sensitization during attacks.

Conclusions:

  • Primary headaches are associated with distinct electrophysiological dysfunctions in information processing.
  • Abnormal habituation and sensitization are crucial features of migraine, TTH, and cluster headache.
  • Understanding these neurophysiological alterations can guide the development of novel therapies and elucidate treatment mechanisms.