Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 21, 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

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μ-Opioid activation in the midbrain during migraine allodynia - brief report II

Thiago D Nascimento1, Marcos F DosSantos1, Sarah Lucas1

  • 1Headache and Orofacial Pain Effort (HOPE), Biologic and Materials Sciences Department, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology
|October 21, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Migraine headaches involve central opioid system activation. Positron emission tomography revealed high mu-opioid receptor (μOR) activation in the midbrain during migraine-associated allodynia.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Medical Imaging
  • Pain Research

Background:

  • Migraine is a debilitating neurological disorder.
  • The central opioid system's role in migraine pathophysiology remains incompletely understood.
  • Trigeminal allodynia is a common migraine symptom.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in vivo activity of the central mu-opioid receptor (μOR) system during spontaneous migraine headaches.
  • To correlate μOR activation with trigeminal allodynia in migraineurs.

Main Methods:

  • Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning was used in six migraineurs.
  • The selective μOR radiotracer [11C]carfentanil was employed.
  • Scans were conducted during both ictal (headache) and interictal (no headache) phases.

Main Results:

  • Migraineurs exhibited ictal trigeminal allodynia during a thermal pain challenge.
  • This allodynia positively correlated with increased μOR activation in the midbrain.
  • Activated regions included the red nucleus and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray matter.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides the first in vivo evidence of significant μOR activation in the migraineur brain during an allodynic experience.
  • Findings highlight the involvement of the central μ-opioid system in migraine pain processing.

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