The effects of unilateral plethysmographic feedback of temporal artery activity during migraine head pain.
Eight classic migraine sufferers were trained to self-regulate blood volume pulse amplitude (BVPA) using photoelectric plethysmograph feedback. Using a within-subject design, subjects learned to increase and decrease BVPA at superficial temporal artery (STA) and finger locations. They were then assessed while experiencing a migraine headache in the training laboratory during which pain measurements were obtained. Results showed a significant relationship between voluntary pulse amplitude changes in the STA and pain reports during migraine consistent with expectations from Wolff's theory. Further, pain did not change as a result of pulse amplitude changes in the finger location. A two-stage biofeedback treatment model for migraine is proposed.
D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D001810:Blood Volume; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D010991:Plethysmography; D013699:Temporal Arteries; D014661:Vasoconstriction; D014664:Vasodilation