Migraine--new perspectives from chaos theory.
Converging from a number of disciplines, non-linear systems theory and in particular chaos theory offer new descriptive and prescriptive insights into physiological systems. This paper briefly reviews an approach to physiological systems from these perspectives and outlines how these concepts can be applied to the study of migraine. It suggests a wide range of potential applications including new approaches to classification, treatment and pathophysiological mechanisms. A hypothesis is developed that suggests that dysfunctional consequences can result from a mismatch between the complexity of the environment and the system that is seeking to regulate it and that the migraine phenomenon is caused by an incongruity between the complexity of mid brain sensory integration and cortical control networks. Chaos theory offers a new approach to the study of migraine that complements existing frameworks but may more accurately reflect underlying physiological mechanisms.
Kernick
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St Thomas Health Centre, Exeter, UK. su1838@eclipse.co.uk
D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008954:Models, Biological; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics