Increased interictal visual network connectivity in patients with migraine with aura

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Neurology
• Functional Connectivity Analysis

Background:

• Migraine with aura (MA) and migraine without aura (MO) are distinct neurological conditions.
• Understanding interictal functional brain alterations is crucial for differentiating migraine subtypes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate resting-state visual network functional connectivity in MA and MO patients during interictal periods.
• To investigate potential links between functional connectivity and structural/microstructural changes.

Main Methods:

• Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) was employed.
• 20 MA patients, 20 MO patients, and 20 healthy controls were included.
• Voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging assessed structural integrity.

Main Results:

• MA patients exhibited significantly increased functional connectivity in the right lingual gyrus within the visual network compared to MO patients and controls.
• These functional alterations were independent of structural or microstructural abnormalities.
• No correlation was found between connectivity changes and migraine severity.

Conclusions:

• Migraine with aura is associated with altered resting-state visual network connectivity, specifically involving the lingual gyrus.
• This finding supports the hypothesis of extrastriate cortex involvement in migraine aura mechanisms.
• rs-fMRI may offer a functional biomarker to distinguish MA from MO patients between attacks.