Volume 27, Issue 10 pp. 1150-1155

The vestibulo-collic reflex is abnormal in migraine

M Allena

M Allena

Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology and

Search for more papers by this author
D Magis

D Magis

Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology and

Search for more papers by this author
V De Pasqua

V De Pasqua

Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology and

Search for more papers by this author
J Schoenen

Corresponding Author

J Schoenen

Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology and

Res Ctr Cell Mol Neurobiology, Liège University, Liège, Belgium

Professor Dr Jean Schoenen, Headache Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Liège University, CHR Citadelle, Boulevard du 12ème de Ligne, 1, 4000 Liège, Belgium. Tel. + 32 4225 6391, fax + 32 4 225 6451, e-mail [email protected]Search for more papers by this author
First published: 04 September 2007
Citations: 6

Abstract

Interictal evoked central nervous system responses are characterized in migraineurs by a deficit of habituation, at both cortical and subcortical levels. The click-evoked vestibulo-collic reflex (VCR) allows the assessment of otolith function and an oligosynaptic pathway linking receptors in the saccular macula to motoneurons of neck muscles. Three blocks of 75 averaged responses to monaural 95-dB normal hearing level 3-Hz clicks were recorded over the contracted ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid muscle in 25 migraineurs between attacks and 20 healthy subjects, without vestibular symptoms. Amplitudes, raw and corrected for baseline electromyography, were significantly smaller in migraine patients. Whereas in healthy volunteers the VCR habituated during stimulus repetition (−4.96% ± 14.3), potentiation was found in migraineurs (4.34% ± 15.3; P = 0.04). The combination with a reduced mean amplitude does not favour vestibular hyperexcitability as an explanation for the habituation deficit in migraine, but rather an abnormal processing of repeated stimuli in the reflex circuit.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.