Increased interictal visual network connectivity in patients with migraine with aura.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the resting-state visual network functional connectivity in patients with migraine with aura and migraine without aura during the interictal period.


METHODS
Using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, the resting-state visual network integrity was investigated in 20 patients with migraine with aura, 20 age- and sex-matched patients with migraine without aura and 20 healthy controls. Voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging were used to assess whether between-groups differences in functional connectivity were dependent on structural or microstructural changes.


RESULTS
Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data showed that patients with migraine with aura, compared to both patients with migraine without aura and healthy controls, had a significant increased functional connectivity in the right lingual gyrus within the resting-state visual network (p < 0.05, cluster-level corrected). This abnormal resting-state visual network functional connectivity was observed in the absence of structural or microstructural abnormalities and was not related to migraine severity.


CONCLUSIONS
Our imaging data revealed that patients with migraine with aura exhibit an altered resting-state visual network connectivity. These results support the hypothesis of an extrastriate cortex involvement, centred in the lingual gyrus, a brain region related to mechanisms underlying the initiation and propagation of the migraine aura. This resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging finding may represent a functional biomarker that could differentiate patients experiencing the aura phenomenon from patients with migraine without aura, even between migraine attacks.
Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Italy MRI Research Centre SUN-FISM, Second University of Naples, Italy Institute for Diagnosis and Care 'Hermitage Capodimonte', Italy.
Gioacchino
G
Tedeschi
Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Italy MRI Research Centre SUN-FISM, Second University of Naples, Italy Institute for Diagnosis and Care 'Hermitage Capodimonte', Italy.
Antonio
A
Russo
Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Italy.
Francesca
F
Conte
MRI Research Centre SUN-FISM, Second University of Naples, Italy.
Daniele
D
Corbo
MRI Research Centre SUN-FISM, Second University of Naples, Italy.
Giuseppina
G
Caiazzo
Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Italy MRI Research Centre SUN-FISM, Second University of Naples, Italy.
Alfonso
A
Giordano
Neuroradiology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples, Italy.
Renata
R
Conforti
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Italy.
Fabrizio
F
Esposito
Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Italy alessandro.tessitore@unina2.it.
Alessandro
A
Tessitore
D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020325:Migraine with Aura / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*
Migraine; aura; extrastriate; functional magnetic resonance imaging; lingual gyrus; resting-state