RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Increased Amplitude of Thalamocortical Low-Frequency Oscillations in Patients with Migraine
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 8026
OP 8036
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1038-16.2016
VO 36
IS 30
A1 Duncan J. Hodkinson
A1 Sophie L. Wilcox
A1 Rosanna Veggeberg
A1 Rodrigo Noseda
A1 Rami Burstein
A1 David Borsook
A1 Lino Becerra
YR 2016
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/36/30/8026.abstract
AB For many years, neurobiological theories have emphasized the importance of neuronal oscillations in the emergence of brain function. At the same time, clinical studies have shown that disturbances or irregularities in brain rhythms may relate to various common neurological conditions, including migraine. Increasing evidence suggests that the CNS plays a fundamental role in the predisposition to develop different forms of headache. Here, we present human imaging data that strongly support the presence of abnormal low-frequency oscillations (LFOs) in thalamocortical networks of patients in the interictal phase of migraine. Our results show that the main source of arrhythmic activity was localized to the higher-order thalamic relays of the medial dorsal nucleus. In addition, spontaneous LFOs in the thalamus were selectively associated with the headache attack frequency, meaning that the varying amplitude of dysrhythmia could predispose patients to recurrent attacks. Rhythmic cortical feedback to the thalamus is a major factor in the amplification of thalamocortical oscillations, making it a strong candidate for influencing neuronal excitability. We further speculate that the intrinsic dynamics of thalamocortical network oscillations are crucial for early sensory processing and therefore could underlie important pathophysiological processes involved in multisensory integration.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In many cases, migraine attacks are thought to begin centrally. A major obstacle to studying intrinsic brain activity has been the identification of the precise anatomical structures and functional networks that are involved in migraine. Here, we present imaging data that strongly support the presence of abnormal low-frequency oscillations in thalamocortical networks of patients in the interictal phase of migraine. This arrhythmic activity was localized to the higher-order thalamic relays of the medial dorsal nucleus and was selectively associated with headache attack frequency. Rhythmic cortical feedback to the thalamus is a major factor in the amplification of thalamocortical oscillations, making it a strong candidate for influencing neuronal excitability and higher-level processes involved in multisensory integration.