Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 25, 2026
A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology
Published on: February 7, 2015
Non-invasive methods for measuring vascular changes in neurovascular headaches
Henrik W Schytz1, Faisal M Amin1, Juliette Selb2
11 Danish Headache Center and Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Cerebral vascular imaging reveals changes during headache attacks, particularly in migraine with aura. Current methods like transcranial Doppler lack solid evidence for blood flow changes, but advanced imaging shows promise for understanding headache mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimaging
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Cerebral vascular changes are studied in spontaneous headache attacks.
- Early hypotheses linked cerebral vessels to pain sensation.
- Understanding vascular contributions is key to headache pathophysiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review neuroimaging techniques for studying cerebral vasculature during primary headache attacks.
- To assess the evidence for vascular changes in different primary headache disorders.
- To highlight the role of advanced imaging in headache research.
Main Methods:
- Review of studies utilizing single photon emission tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and transcranial Doppler (TCD).
- Inclusion of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in headache research.
- Analysis of findings from spontaneous primary headache attacks.
Main Results:
- Transcranial Doppler (TCD) studies show no conclusive evidence of cerebral blood flow velocity changes during migraine attacks.
- Single photon emission tomography (SPECT) demonstrates cortical vascular changes post-migraine aura, differentiating migraine with aura from without.
- Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) reveals specific alterations in large cerebral vessels during migraine without aura attacks.
Conclusions:
- Neuroimaging has provided insights into vascular changes during primary headaches, especially migraine.
- While some methods like TCD lack definitive findings, SPECT and MRA show significant results.
- Further advancements in imaging technology are crucial for elucidating primary headache pathophysiology.
More Related Videos
06:24Paired Cisterna Magna Nanoinjection and Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging Assay to Study Cerebral Blood Flow Regulation In Vivo
Published on: July 8, 2025
08:12A Volumetric Method for Quantification of Cerebral Vasospasm in a Murine Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Published on: July 28, 2018