title: Altered neurochemical coupling in the occipital cortex in migraine with visual aura.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Visual aura is present in about one-third of migraine patients and triggering by bright or flickering lights is frequently reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using migraine with visual aura patients, we investigated the neurochemical profile of the visual cortex using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Specifically, glutamate/creatine and GABA/creatine ratios were quantified in the occipital cortex of female migraine patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GABA levels in the occipital cortex of migraine patients were lower than that of controls. Glutamate levels in migraine patients, but not controls, correlated with the blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) signal in the primary visual cortex during visual stimulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Migraine with visual aura appears to disrupt the excitation-inhibition coupling in the occipital cortex.
authors: Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, UK Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), University of Oxford, UK holly.bridge@ndcn.ox.ac.uk zameel.cader@ndcn.ox.ac.uk.
authors: Holly
authors: H
authors: Bridge
authors: Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, UK Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), University of Oxford, UK Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, University of Oxford, UK.
authors: Charlotte J
authors: CJ
authors: Stagg
authors: Douglas Mental Health University Institute and Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Canada.
authors: Jamie
authors: J
authors: Near
authors: Department of Neurology, Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Chi-ieong
authors: CI
authors: Lau
authors: Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), University of Oxford, UK.
authors: Aimee
authors: A
authors: Zisner
authors: Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, UK Oxford Headache Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors: M Zameel
authors: MZ
authors: Cader
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D020325:Migraine with Aura / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
keywords: GABA; Migraine; glutamate; magnetic resonance spectroscopy; visual cortex