Migraine: A Brain State
Migraine: A Brain State
Conceptualizing a migraine attack as a brain state facilitates consideration of the entire array of migraine symptoms, as well as its complex neurochemical, cellular and anatomical substrates. Expanding the definitions of migraine beyond the traditional narrow focus on aura and headache creates opportunities for new experimental paradigms to study the disorder, and new therapeutic approaches. Comparison of the similarities and differences between migraine and other brain states, enabled by advances in imaging and physiological recording techniques, is likely to provide critical new insight into the causes of migraine and how to more effectively treat it.
Conclusion
Conceptualizing a migraine attack as a brain state facilitates consideration of the entire array of migraine symptoms, as well as its complex neurochemical, cellular and anatomical substrates. Expanding the definitions of migraine beyond the traditional narrow focus on aura and headache creates opportunities for new experimental paradigms to study the disorder, and new therapeutic approaches. Comparison of the similarities and differences between migraine and other brain states, enabled by advances in imaging and physiological recording techniques, is likely to provide critical new insight into the causes of migraine and how to more effectively treat it.