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Brain activity and autonomic regulation in untreated migraine patients

Monteiro IO, Novakovic J, Rodrigues MK, Cunha Neto JS, Rela MOV, Oliveira MF

Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria, 2025

1 citation

Abstract

Abstract Migraine causes intense pain, significant disability, deficits in attention and memory, slowed information processing, and cognitive disorders. However, it is unclear how migraine, cardiovascular, and cerebral issues impact daily life or relate to future adverse events. To evaluate the brain activity and autonomic regulation in untreated migraine patients. In the present case-control study, we compared untreated migraine patients with healthy controls. The participants underwent cognitive testing (Stroop Color Test, Trail Making Test, Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination, and Reaction Time Test), brain activity measurement (MindWave Mobile), and autonomic regulation assessment via heart rate variability (Polar V800). No differences were found between the groups in terms of cognitive test scores. However, the healthy controls consistently showed increased variation in brain activity during the cognitive tests, while migraine patients exhibited decreased activity across all tests (p 0.05). Despite the similar cognitive test scores, migraine patients exhibited reduced variation in brain activity during cognitive tests and an imbalanced autonomic regulation, characterized by decreased sympathetic activity and increased parasympathetic activity.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a case-control, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause.

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