Aberrant Spontaneous Low-Frequency Brain Activity in Migraine: A Meta-Analysis of Resting-State fMRI Studies

Resting-state functional MRI has revealed abnormal brain activity in patients with migraine, though findings have been inconsistent. This meta-analysis utilized Seed-based d Mapping to assess variations in amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF). The aim was to identify common brain regions with altered spontaneous brain activity in migraine patients.

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase for studies published up to August 2023, comparing spontaneous low-frequency brain activity between migraine patients and healthy controls (HCs). Jackknife sensitivity, heterogeneity, publication bias, and meta-regression analyses were performed to ensure the robustness and reliability of our findings.

Nine studies, including 708 migraine patients and HCs, were included in the analysis. Applying a highly conservative family-wise error rate correction, no significant findings were observed. However, when a less conservative threshold was used, migraine patients exhibited increased ALFF/fALFF in the left anterior thalamus and the corticospinal tract but showed decreased values in the right middle frontal gyrus. Jackknife sensitivity analysis confirmed the reproducibility of these results, while heterogeneity analysis revealed significant variability across studies, likely due to differences in study design and patient populations.

This meta-analysis provides a comprehensive synthesis of neuroimaging evidence, linking migraine to abnormal spontaneous brain activity in regions associated with pain processing and nociceptive emotional modulation. These findings enhance our understanding of migraine pathophysiology and highlight potential targets for neuromodulation therapies, offering new directions for future research and clinical interventions.