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Abnormalities of Thalamic Functional Connectivity in Patients with Migraine: A Resting-State fMRI Study
Zi-Min Cao1, Yi-Chao Chen1, Guo-Yun Liu1
1Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Dongzhimen Hospital Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Hai Yun Cang on the 5th Zip, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100700, China.
Introduction:
Migraine is a common headache disorder. Many studies have used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore the possible pathogenesis of migraine, but they have not reached consistent conclusions and lack rigorous multiple comparison correction. Thus, this study investigates the mechanisms of migraine development from the perspective of altered functional connectivity (FC) in brain regions by using data-driven and regions of interest (ROI)-based approaches.
Methods:
Resting-state functional MRI data were collected from 30 patients with migraine and 40 healthy controls (HCs) matched for age, gender, and years of education. For the data-driven method, we used a voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) approach to compare the FC between the patients and HCs. For the ROI-based method, significant differences in VMHC maps between the patients and HCs were defined as ROI. The seed-based approach further revealed significant differences in FC between the seeds and the other brain regions. Furthermore, the correlations between abnormal FC and clinical characteristics of patients were investigated. A rigorous multiple comparison correction was used with false discovery rate and permutation test (5000 times).
Results:
In comparison with the controls group, patients showed enhanced VMHC in the bilateral thalamus. We also observed enhanced FC between the left thalamus and the left superior frontal gyrus, and increased FC between the right thalamus and the left middle frontal gyrus (Brodmann area 45 and Brodmann area 8) in patients. Further analysis showed that the FC values in the left superior frontal gyrus and left middle frontal gyrus were negatively corrected with visual analogue scale scores or attack times for headaches.
Conclusions:
Patients with migraine showed altered VMHC in the bilateral thalamus, and abnormal FC of bilateral thalamus and other brain regions. The abnormalities in thalamic FC are a likely mechanism for the development of migraine.
Trial Registration:
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000033995. Registered on 20 June 2020.
Insights
Migraine patients exhibit altered functional connectivity (FC) in the thalamus and related brain regions. These brain connectivity changes are linked to migraine development and symptom severity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Medical Research
Background:
- Migraine is a prevalent neurological disorder with unclear pathogenesis.
- Previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies on migraine have yielded inconsistent results.
- A need exists for rigorous investigation into migraine mechanisms using advanced neuroimaging techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms of migraine development.
- To explore altered functional connectivity (FC) in brain regions using data-driven and region of interest (ROI)-based approaches.
- To correlate brain connectivity abnormalities with clinical characteristics of migraine.
Main Methods:
- Resting-state functional MRI data from 30 migraine patients and 40 healthy controls were analyzed.
- Voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) and seed-based FC analyses were performed.
- Rigorous multiple comparison correction using false discovery rate and permutation testing was applied.
Main Results:
- Patients with migraine demonstrated enhanced VMHC in the bilateral thalamus compared to controls.
- Increased FC was observed between the thalamus and frontal regions (superior and middle frontal gyri).
- Abnormal FC in frontal regions correlated negatively with headache severity and attack frequency.
Conclusions:
- Altered VMHC in the bilateral thalamus is characteristic of migraine.
- Abnormal functional connectivity between the thalamus and other brain regions is implicated in migraine pathogenesis.
- Thalamic functional connectivity abnormalities represent a potential mechanism underlying migraine development.
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