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Updated: Mar 14, 2026
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3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
18.8K
Current Understanding on Pain Mechanism in Migraine and Cluster Headache
Alina Buture1, Rubesh Gooriah1, Randa Nimeri1
1Department of Neurology, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK.
Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
|September 20, 2016
Summary
Migraine and cluster headache pain mechanisms are complex and not fully understood. Research suggests the trigeminovascular system and specific brain areas like the pons and hypothalamus are involved in these neurovascular headaches.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pain Medicine
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Migraine and cluster headache are common, debilitating primary headache disorders.
- The underlying pain mechanisms for these conditions are not well understood.
- Current treatments are largely empirical, with limited mechanistic understanding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of pain mechanisms in migraine and cluster headache.
- To synthesize findings on the neurobiological basis of these headache disorders.
Main Methods:
- A literature review was conducted using PubMed.
- Searches included terms like "migraine" and "pain mechanism" (488 articles) and "cluster headache" and "pain mechanism" (79 articles).
- Articles were selected based on relevance to pain mechanisms.
Main Results:
- The trigeminovascular system and neurogenic inflammation are implicated in migraine and cluster headache, classifying them as 'neurovascular headaches'.
- Functional imaging suggests the dorsolateral pons may generate migraine attacks.
- The hypothalamus is more firmly established as playing a role in cluster headache.
Conclusions:
- Migraine and cluster headache exhibit complex pathophysiologies.
- The precise pain mechanisms require further investigation.
- Additional research is needed to elucidate the exact causes of pain in these headache disorders.
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