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Updated: Jul 30, 2025
3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
Parahippocampus hypertrophy drives gray matter morphological alterations in migraine patients without aura
Tao Yin1,2, Lei Lan1,2, Zilei Tian1,2
1Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610075, Sichuan, China.
Background:
The aberrance of gray matter morphology in migraineurs has been widely investigated. However, it remains largely unknown whether there are illness duration-related hierarchical changes in the gray matter structure.
Methods:
A total of 86 migraine without aura (MwoA) patients and 73 healthy controls were included. The Voxel-Based Morphometry approach was utilized to compare the gray matter volume (GMV) differences between MwoA patients and healthy controls. The Structural Covariance Network analysis was conducted to quantify the cross-regional synchronous alterations of gray matter structure in MwoA patients. The Causal Structural Covariance Network analysis was performed to describe the progressive and hierarchical changes in the gray matter network of patients in the pathological progression of migraine.
Results:
MwoA patients had duration-stage related GMV hypertrophy in the left parahippocampus, as well as synergistic GMV aberrance in the parahippocampus and the medial inferior temporal gyrus and cerebellum. Moreover, the GMV alteration of the parahippocampus, and the surrounding hippocampus, amygdala, and bilateral anterior cerebellum, preceded and causally influenced the morphological changes of lateral parietal-temporal-occipital gyrus, as well as the motor cortex and prefrontal gyrus with the increasing illness duration in MwoA patients.
Conclusion:
The current study indicated that gray matter structural alterations in the medial inferior temporal gyrus, especially the parahippocampus, is a critical pathological characteristic in MwoA patients, which drives the gray matter structure alteration of other regions. These findings provide further evidence for understanding the progressive gray matter morphological changes in migraine and may facilitate the development of neuromodulation therapies targeting this procession.
Insights
Migraine without aura (MwoA) involves progressive gray matter changes, particularly in the parahippocampus, which influence other brain regions over time. This study reveals a hierarchical progression of these structural alterations in MwoA patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Brain Morphology
Background:
- Gray matter morphology changes are known in migraineurs.
- Hierarchical, duration-related structural changes in gray matter remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate illness duration-related hierarchical changes in gray matter structure in migraine without aura (MwoA).
- Identify key brain regions driving these progressive alterations.
Main Methods:
- Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM) to compare gray matter volume (GMV) between 86 MwoA patients and 73 controls.
- Structural Covariance Network (SCN) analysis for cross-regional alterations.
- Causal SCN analysis for progressive, hierarchical changes in the migraine gray matter network.
Main Results:
- MwoA patients showed duration-stage related GMV hypertrophy in the left parahippocampus.
- Synergistic GMV aberrances observed in the parahippocampus, medial inferior temporal gyrus, and cerebellum.
- Parahippocampus alterations causally influenced morphological changes in distant regions like the parietal-temporal-occipital gyrus, motor cortex, and prefrontal cortex with increasing illness duration.
Conclusions:
- Medial inferior temporal gyrus, particularly the parahippocampus, is a critical pathological hub in MwoA.
- These parahippocampal changes drive gray matter alterations in other brain regions.
- Findings enhance understanding of progressive migraine pathology and may inform neuromodulation therapies.
