Headache Disorder
A neurological condition causing recurrent, often severe headaches, frequently accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light or sound, and in some cases preceded by visual or sensory 'aura' symptoms.
Migraine is a neurological condition, not simply "a bad headache" - it involves a distinct sequence of brain changes that can include a premonitory phase, sometimes an aura, the headache itself, and a lingering "postdrome" phase, though not everyone experiences all stages. Roughly a quarter of people with migraine experience aura, most often visual disturbances that develop gradually over minutes, thought to result from a wave of altered electrical activity spreading slowly across the cortex known as cortical spreading depression.
The head pain of migraine is driven largely by activation of the trigeminovascular system, centred on the trigeminal nerve pathways within the brain stem, which supply sensation to the head and face. The thalamus is thought to amplify and relay these pain signals to the cortex, and altered thalamic activity may contribute to the light and sound sensitivity common during attacks. When aura occurs, the occipital lobe's visual cortex is usually the starting point of the spreading wave responsible for visual symptoms. Increased activity in the hypothalamus in the hours before an attack is believed to underlie many premonitory symptoms.
A newer class of medications targeting CGRP, a molecule released by activated trigeminal nerves that promotes pain and inflammation, has significantly expanded both acute and preventive treatment options over the past decade. Non-invasive neuromodulation devices, which deliver mild electrical or magnetic stimulation to disrupt migraine-related brain activity, represent another growing treatment avenue. Research continues into the precise mechanism of cortical spreading depression and why some people experience aura and others don't.
This article is for general education and isn't a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis.
Explore the regions involved in migraine in more depth:
