Shared neural signatures of photophobia in migraine and post-traumatic headache: a task-based fMRI study
Abstract Background Persistent post-traumatic headache (PTH) and migraine frequently present with photic hypersensitivity that exacerbates headache symptoms. We sought to determine whether persistent PTH is associated with altered brain responses to visual stimuli and to explore shared neural mechan...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | The Journal of Headache and Pain |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-025-02088-y |
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| author | Rune Häckert Christensen Haidar Muhsen Al-Khazali Anna Gudrun Melchior Messoud Ashina Håkan Ashina |
| author_facet | Rune Häckert Christensen Haidar Muhsen Al-Khazali Anna Gudrun Melchior Messoud Ashina Håkan Ashina |
| author_sort | Rune Häckert Christensen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Persistent post-traumatic headache (PTH) and migraine frequently present with photic hypersensitivity that exacerbates headache symptoms. We sought to determine whether persistent PTH is associated with altered brain responses to visual stimuli and to explore shared neural mechanisms of photophobia with migraine. Methods This cross-sectional functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study included 80 adults with persistent PTH, 261 with migraine, and 143 healthy controls (HCs). All participants underwent visual stimulation using a flickering checkerboard during a 3T fMRI session. Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) responses were examined using whole-brain and region-of-interest (ROI) analyses. All analyses were adjusted for age and sex. Results Whole-brain analysis revealed no significant BOLD differences across the full persistent PTH, migraine, and HC groups. However, participants with persistent PTH who experienced photophobia during the scan (n = 41) showed greater activation in the anterior and midcingulate cortex compared with HCs (P FWE = 0.010). No differences were observed between photophobic participants with persistent PTH and those with migraine who reported an attack during the fMRI session. ROI analyses identified greater activation in the anterior cingulate, midcingulate, and insular cortices in both photophobic participants with persistent PTH and ictal participants with migraine, relative to HCs (all P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between photophobic participants with persistent PTH and ictal participants with migraine. Conclusions Photophobia in persistent PTH is associated with greater activation in cortical regions implicated in pain processing. These patterns parallel those observed during migraine attacks, indicating shared neural mechanisms between the two headache disorders. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-130a72f7fc2140ac8ffc914bb8146edc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1129-2377 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Journal of Headache and Pain |
| spelling | doaj-art-130a72f7fc2140ac8ffc914bb8146edc2025-08-20T03:45:31ZengBMCThe Journal of Headache and Pain1129-23772025-07-0126111210.1186/s10194-025-02088-yShared neural signatures of photophobia in migraine and post-traumatic headache: a task-based fMRI studyRune Häckert Christensen0Haidar Muhsen Al-Khazali1Anna Gudrun Melchior2Messoud Ashina3Håkan Ashina4Department of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Copenhagen University Hospital – RigshospitaletDepartment of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Copenhagen University Hospital – RigshospitaletDepartment of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Copenhagen University Hospital – RigshospitaletDepartment of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Copenhagen University Hospital – RigshospitaletDepartment of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Copenhagen University Hospital – RigshospitaletAbstract Background Persistent post-traumatic headache (PTH) and migraine frequently present with photic hypersensitivity that exacerbates headache symptoms. We sought to determine whether persistent PTH is associated with altered brain responses to visual stimuli and to explore shared neural mechanisms of photophobia with migraine. Methods This cross-sectional functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study included 80 adults with persistent PTH, 261 with migraine, and 143 healthy controls (HCs). All participants underwent visual stimulation using a flickering checkerboard during a 3T fMRI session. Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) responses were examined using whole-brain and region-of-interest (ROI) analyses. All analyses were adjusted for age and sex. Results Whole-brain analysis revealed no significant BOLD differences across the full persistent PTH, migraine, and HC groups. However, participants with persistent PTH who experienced photophobia during the scan (n = 41) showed greater activation in the anterior and midcingulate cortex compared with HCs (P FWE = 0.010). No differences were observed between photophobic participants with persistent PTH and those with migraine who reported an attack during the fMRI session. ROI analyses identified greater activation in the anterior cingulate, midcingulate, and insular cortices in both photophobic participants with persistent PTH and ictal participants with migraine, relative to HCs (all P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between photophobic participants with persistent PTH and ictal participants with migraine. Conclusions Photophobia in persistent PTH is associated with greater activation in cortical regions implicated in pain processing. These patterns parallel those observed during migraine attacks, indicating shared neural mechanisms between the two headache disorders.https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-025-02088-yPost-Traumatic headacheMigraineHeadacheFunctional magnetic resonance imagingSensory processing |
| spellingShingle | Rune Häckert Christensen Haidar Muhsen Al-Khazali Anna Gudrun Melchior Messoud Ashina Håkan Ashina Shared neural signatures of photophobia in migraine and post-traumatic headache: a task-based fMRI study The Journal of Headache and Pain Post-Traumatic headache Migraine Headache Functional magnetic resonance imaging Sensory processing |
| title | Shared neural signatures of photophobia in migraine and post-traumatic headache: a task-based fMRI study |
| title_full | Shared neural signatures of photophobia in migraine and post-traumatic headache: a task-based fMRI study |
| title_fullStr | Shared neural signatures of photophobia in migraine and post-traumatic headache: a task-based fMRI study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Shared neural signatures of photophobia in migraine and post-traumatic headache: a task-based fMRI study |
| title_short | Shared neural signatures of photophobia in migraine and post-traumatic headache: a task-based fMRI study |
| title_sort | shared neural signatures of photophobia in migraine and post traumatic headache a task based fmri study |
| topic | Post-Traumatic headache Migraine Headache Functional magnetic resonance imaging Sensory processing |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-025-02088-y |
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