Altered lateral geniculate nucleus functional connectivity in migraine without aura: a resting-state functional MRI...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging
• Neurology

Background:

• Migraine without aura (MwoA) is a common neurological disorder.
• The role of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) in MwoA pathogenesis is not fully understood.
• Investigating LGN structural and functional connectivity may reveal insights into MwoA mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine structural and functional connectivity alterations in the LGN of MwoA patients.
• To explore the relationship between LGN changes and clinical characteristics in MwoA.
• To understand the neural basis of photophobia in MwoA.

Main Methods:

• Conventional MRI, 3D structural imaging, and resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) were used.
• 30 MwoA patients and 22 healthy controls (HC) were included.
• LGN volumes and functional connectivity (FC) were computed and compared between groups.

Main Results:

• LGN volumes did not significantly differ between MwoA patients and HC.
• MwoA patients exhibited increased FC in the left LGN with the left cerebellum and right lingual gyrus.
• Increased FC of the right LGN was observed with the left inferior frontal gyrus in MwoA patients.
• A positive correlation was found between photophobia severity (VLSQ-8 score) and increased FC in specific brain regions.

Conclusions:

• Abnormal resting-state functional connectivity in visual processing, pain regulation, and emotion regulation networks may mediate photophobia in MwoA.
• These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the clinical manifestations and pathogenesis of migraine.
• LGN functional connectivity alterations are implicated in the sensory and affective components of MwoA.