Computerized EEG analysis in migraine patients

Computerized analysis and topographical mapping were performed on the EEGs of 28 migraine patients (17 without and 11 with typical aura) and an age and sex-matched control group of 28 subjects. Traditional visual EEG analysis revealed only a slight diffuse slowing of theta band in eight patients (28.6%), and computerized analysis revealed significant changes in eleven (39.3%). The most frequently altered parameters were an increase in the relative power of the slow bands and/or a decrease in that of alpha band. These variations appeared to be particularly significant in the posterior regions. No significant inter-hemisphere asymmetry was revealed. Comparisons between the patient and control groups showed that the only statistically significant difference was a bilateral increase in theta power in the parieto-occipital regions of the patients. We conclude that the role of topographical EEG mapping in the clinical diagnosis of migraine is still limited.