title: Thalamo-cortical network activity between migraine attacks: Insights from MRI-based microstructural and functional resting-state network correlation analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Resting state magnetic resonance imaging allows studying functionally interconnected brain networks. Here we were aimed to verify functional connectivity between brain networks at rest and its relationship with thalamic microstructure in migraine without aura (MO) patients between attacks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients with untreated MO underwent 3 T MRI scans and were compared to a group of 19 healthy volunteers (HV). We used MRI to collect resting state data among two selected resting state networks, identified using group independent component (IC) analysis. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values of bilateral thalami were retrieved from a previous diffusion tensor imaging study on the same subjects and correlated with resting state ICs Z-scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison to HV, in MO we found significant reduced functional connectivity between the default mode network and the visuo-spatial system. Both HV and migraine patients selected ICs Z-scores correlated negatively with FA values of the thalamus bilaterally.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results are the first evidence supporting the hypothesis that an abnormal resting within networks connectivity associated with significant differences in baseline thalamic microstructure could contribute to interictal migraine pathophysiology.
authors: Research Unit of Neurophysiology of Vision and Neurophthalmology, G.B. Bietti Foundation-IRCCS, Via Livenza 3, 00198, Rome, Italy. gianluca.coppola@gmail.com.
authors: Gianluca
authors: G
authors: Coppola
authors: Research Unit of Neurophysiology of Vision and Neurophthalmology, G.B. Bietti Foundation-IRCCS, Via Livenza 3, 00198, Rome, Italy.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Di Renzo
authors: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Neuroradiology Section, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Emanuele
authors: E
authors: Tinelli
authors: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Neurology Section, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Lepre
authors: Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors: Cherubino
authors: C
authors: Di Lorenzo
authors: Laboratory of Psychophysiology, Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Di Lorenzo
authors: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Neuroradiology Section, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Scapeccia
authors: Research Unit of Neurophysiology of Vision and Neurophthalmology, G.B. Bietti Foundation-IRCCS, Via Livenza 3, 00198, Rome, Italy.
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Parisi
authors: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome Polo Pontino, Latina, Italy.
authors: Mariano
authors: M
authors: Serrao
authors: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Neuroradiology Section, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.|IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, (IS), Italy.
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Colonnese
authors: Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology-CHR Citadelle, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Schoenen
authors: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome Polo Pontino, Latina, Italy.|IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, (IS), Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Pierelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016880:Anisotropy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020326:Migraine without Aura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Fractional anisotropy; Magnetic resonance imaging; Migraine; Resting state; Thalamus