Migraine Aura Linked to Seizure Activity in the Brain

Research Summary

Researchers found that spreading depolarization (SD), a wave of cellular depolarization linked to migraine aura, can trigger seizure-like activity in the hippocampus, a brain region involved in mood and cognition regulation. The study, published in the Journal of Headache and Pain, explored how SD affects the dorsal and ventral hippocampus in awake rats. They discovered that SD waveforms differed based on hippocampal zones, and notably, unilateral SD in the dorsal hippocampus led to bilateral seizure-like discharges in the ventral hippocampus. This phenomenon manifested behaviorally as wet dog shakes, providing new insights into migraine-aura triggered seizures, potentially relevant to migralepsy.

Study Details

📄 Title: Spreading depolarization is followed by seizure-like activation of the hippocampus: potential mechanism of migraine-aura triggered seizures.

👥 Research Team: Smirnova MP, Pavlova IV, Vinogradova LV

📚 Published In: J Headache Pain

📅 Publication Date: 2025 Nov 11

⚕️ Medical Disclaimer: This summary is generated automatically from recent migraine research. Always consult with healthcare professionals for medical advice.