title: Subcortical hyperexcitability in migraineurs: a high-frequency oscillation study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An abnormal central nervous system excitability level was found in patients with migraine. Whether it is hyper- or hypo-excitable is still debated. This study aimed to compare the somatosensory high-frequency oscillations (HFOs), which reflected subcortical excitability (early phase) and intracortical inhibition (late phase), between patients with migraine and control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  HFOs were recorded from C3'-Fz, using a 500-1000 Hz frequency filter after stimulation at right median nerves at the wrists, and divided into early and late phases based on the N20 peak. Fifty-nine untreated patients (n=24 during ictal period; n=35, interictal) and 22 controls finished the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In early HFOs, patients both during ictal and interictal periods had higher maximal amplitudes (p=0.039) and area-under-curve (p=0.029) than those of the controls. Regarding the late HFOs, there were no significant differences among these groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests a hyper-excitable state in the subcortical regions in patients with migraine both during interictal and ictal periods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Taipei Municipal Gandau Hospital, and Department of Neurology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuan-Lin
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Kwong-Kum
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Jong-Ling
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fuh
authors.forename: Shuu-Jiun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000473:pathology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult