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Magnetoencephalography Studies in Migraine and Headache Disorders: A Systematic Review

Raghavan Gopalakrishnan, N. Malan, Nymisha Mandava, E. J. Dunn, Neil Nero, Richard C. Burgess, MaryAnn Mays, Olivia Hogue

Headache, 2024

8 citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying migraine and other primary headache disorders is critical for the development of long-term cures. Magnetoencephalography (MEG), an imaging modality that measures neuronal currents and cortical excitability with high temporal and superior spatial resolution, has been increasingly used in neurological research. Initial MEG studies showed promise in directly recording cortical spreading depression-a cortical correlate of migraine with aura. However, lately MEG technology has highly evolved with greater potential to reveal underlying pathophysiology of migraine and primary headache disorders, and aid in the identification of biomarkers. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the use of MEG in migraine and other primary headache disorders and summarize findings. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search and selection of MEG studies in migraine and primary headache disorders from inception until June 8, 2023, in Medline, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus databases. Peer-reviewed English articles reporting the use of MEG for clinical or research purposes in migraine and primary headache disorders were selected. RESULTS: We found 560 articles and included 38 in this review after screening. Twelve studies investigated resting-state, while others investigated a sensory modality using an evoked or event-related paradigm with a total of 35 cohort and 3 case studies. Thirty-two studies focused exclusively on migraine, while the rest…

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