Somatosensory temporal discrimination remains intact in tension-type headache whereas it is disrupted in migraine attacks.
Background and objective Somatosensory temporal discrimination was recently reported as prolonged during migraine attacks, which is consistent with disrupted sensorial perception in migraine. However, knowledge about central sensory processing in tension-type headache is still lacking. This prospective, controlled study aimed to investigate somatosensory temporal discrimination thresholds in tension-type headache. Methods The study included 10 tension-type headache patients, 10 migraine patients and 10 healthy volunteers without headache. Somatosensory temporal discrimination thresholds were evaluated during the headache attacks of tension-type headache and migraine patients. Results Somatosensory temporal discrimination thresholds of tension-type headache patients (39.0 ± 5.5 ms for the right hand and 40.6 ± 4.6 ms for the left hand) were significantly lower than those of episodic migraine patients (137.1 ± 35.8 ms for the right hand and 118.4 ± 34.3 ms for the left hand, p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001 respectively), and comparable to those of healthy volunteers (38.6 ± 5.3 ms for the right hand and 38.3 ± 7.2 ms for the left hand, p = 0.79 and p = 0.45 respectively). Conclusion Central sensory processing, as tested by somatosensory temporal discrimination, was remarkably disrupted during the headache attacks in migraineurs, whereas it remained intact in the tension-type headache patients.
1 Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Algology, Besevler, 06510, Ankara, Turkey.|2 Neuropsychiatry Centre, Gazi University, Besevler, 06510, Ankara, Turkey.
Doga
D
Vuralli
1 Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Algology, Besevler, 06510, Ankara, Turkey.|2 Neuropsychiatry Centre, Gazi University, Besevler, 06510, Ankara, Turkey.
H Evren
HE
Boran
3 Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Motor Control Laboratory, Besevler, 06510, Ankara, Turkey.
Bulent
B
Cengiz
1 Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Algology, Besevler, 06510, Ankara, Turkey.
Ozlem
O
Coskun
1 Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Algology, Besevler, 06510, Ankara, Turkey.|2 Neuropsychiatry Centre, Gazi University, Besevler, 06510, Ankara, Turkey.
Hayrunnisa
H
Bolay
D000328:Adult; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
Migraine; central sensory processing; diagnosis; neurophysiology; somatosensory temporal discrimination (STD); tension-type headache