From neurophysiology to genetics: cortical information processing in migraine underlies familial influences--a novel approach.
Migraine patients show impaired cortical information processing between attacks with deficient habituation of pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (VEP), and strong intensity dependence of auditory cortical evoked potentials (IDAP). This could be a genetic trait as certain genetic patterns are known for evoked potentials in healthy subjects. VEP-habituation and IDAP were studied in 40 migraine patients, i.e. pairs of 20 parents and their children. We developed a novel approach based on Monte Carlo statistics to selectively assess vertical familial influences. Both groups, parents and children, were characterized by abnormal VEP-habituation and IDAP. However, similarity between related pairs was far more pronounced than similarity between unrelated pairs. Assessed with a novel statistical approach, familial influences proved to be highly significant in determining cortical information processing in migraineurs, thus supporting the important role of genetic factors.
Sándor
P S
PS
Department of Neurology, CHR Citadelle, University of Liège, Belgium.
Afra
J
J
Proietti Cecchini
A P
AP
Albert
A
A
Schoenen
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*