Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache
-
Primary headaches are functional neurological diseases characterized by a dynamic cyclic pattern over time (ictal/pre-/interictal). Electrophysiological recordings can non-invasively assess the activity of an underlying nervous structure or measure its response to various stimuli, and are therefore particularly appropriate for the study of primary headaches. Their interest, however, is chiefly pathophysiological, as interindividual, and to some extent intraindividual, variations preclude their use as diagnostic tools. ⋯ Electrophysiology is complementary to functional neuroimaging and will undoubtedly remain an important tool in headache research. One of its upcoming applications is to help select neurostimulation techniques and protocols that correct best the functional abnormalities detectable in certain headache disorders.
-
One of the most exciting developments in modern neuroscience was the development of imaging techniques providing a non-invasive technique for detection of structure-function relationships characteristic of pain and headache. There is no question that neuroimaging has provided us with a better understanding of how the aura in migraine develops, and it has served as a bridge between neurophysiological studies and clinical findings, although doubtless several questions remain. ⋯ This review focuses on neuroimaging as a scientific tool and highlights the recent advances made in studying primary headache syndromes using functional and structural neuroimaging techniques. It will also point toward open questions and gives recommendations for future studies.
-
Ethical considerations are made when an experiment is planned and take a regulatory system of moral principles into account. ⋯ The main role of research ethics committees is to assess the scientific and ethical aspects of submitted protocols and follow up the trial until its closure.
-
Migraine is a prevalent neurovascular brain disorder with a strong genetic component, and different methodological approaches have been implemented to identify the genes involved. This review focuses on pearls and pitfalls of these approaches and genetic findings in migraine. ⋯ Novel technological strategies such as next-generation sequencing, which can be implemented in future genetic migraine research, may aid the identification of novel FHM genes and promote the search for the missing heritability of common migraine.
-
A variety of neuromodulatory approaches available today has broadened our therapeutic options significantly especially in drug refractory patients with chronic cluster headache and chronic migraine. ⋯ Pearls and pitfalls of common invasive and non-invasive neuromodulatory approaches and open questions are summarised in this review along with recommendations for future studies.