Cortex Area of Brain Thicker in People with Migraine

It is clear that the part of the cerebral cortex responsible processing sensory signals including pain, the somatosensory cortex, has clusters of thickened areas in Migraineurs. What is not yet clear is the implications of these thickened areas.

The findings of this may help explain the high comorbidity of migraine with other pain disorders, including back pain, temporomandibular disorders, and fibromyalgia besides sensory disturbances such as allodynia. (Comorbidity refers to conditions that occur in a patient at the same time, but do not cause each other.)

Studies such as this one may well provide the basis to better understanding how a Migraine affects the brain. Studies, including this one, are now showing permanent changes to the brains of Migraineurs. Another question is -- Are these changes part of the cause of Migraine attacks, or are they the result of repetitive Migraine attacks?


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• Cerebral cortex - the surface grey matter layer of the brain. A function of the cortex is to coordinate sensory and motor (movement) information.
• Somatosensory cortex (SSC) - Areas of the cerebral cortex, namely the primary somatosensory cortex, the secondary somatosensory area, and the somatosensory association area, devoted to processing information from the somatic receptors.³
• Somatosensory - sensory activity having its origin elsewhere than in the special sense organs (as eyes and ears) and conveying information about the state of the body proper and its immediate environment.⁴

Resources:

¹ Alexandre F.M. DaSilva, DDS, DMSc; Cristina Granziera, MD, PhD; Josh Snyder; Nouchine Hadjikhani, MD. "Thickening in the somatosensory cortex of patients with Migraine." Neurology® 2007;69:1990–1995.

² Press Release: "Brain Differences Found in People with Migraine." St. Paul. American Academy of Neurology. November 19, 2007.

³ HighBeam Encyclopedia

⁴ Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary

⁵ Gardner, Amanda. "Migraine Tied to Thickening in Brain Area." HealthDay News. November 19, 2007.

        
© Teri Robert, 2007.

Originally published November 19. 2007.
Last updated, November 21, 2007.