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Functional magnetic resonance imaging in migraine: A systematic review

S. Schramm, C. Börner, M. Reichert, T. Baum, C. Zimmer, F. Heinen, M. Bonfert, N. Sollmann

Cephalalgia, 2023

63 citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Migraine is a highly prevalent primary headache disorder. Despite a high burden of disease, key disease mechanisms are not entirely understood. Functional magnetic resonance imaging is an imaging method using the blood-oxygen-level-dependent signal, which has been increasingly used in migraine research over recent years. This systematic review summarizes recent findings employing functional magnetic resonance imaging for the investigation of migraine. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search and selection of functional magnetic resonance imaging applications in migraine from April 2014 to December 2021 (PubMed and references of identified articles according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines). Methodological details and main findings were extracted and synthesized. RESULTS: Out of 224 articles identified, 114 were included after selection. Repeatedly emerging structures of interest included the insula, brainstem, limbic system, hypothalamus, thalamus, and functional networks. Assessment of functional brain changes in response to treatment is emerging, and machine learning has been used to investigate potential functional magnetic resonance imaging-based markers of migraine. CONCLUSIONS: A wide variety of functional magnetic resonance imaging-based metrics were found altered across the brain for heterogeneous migraine cohorts, partially correlating with clinical parameters and supporting the concept to conceive…

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