Aura and Other Neurologic Dysfunction in or with Migraine

Abstract

Premise: Migraine can present with a wide range of neurological symptoms.

Problem: Based on currently available data, the symptoms of typical migraine aura are most likely related to cortical spreading depression (CSD), and evidence supports that CSD can lead to trigeminovascular activation resulting in the headache phase of migraine.

Potential solution: An alternative diagnosis to migraine aura should be considered if migrainous headaches present with transient neurological symptoms that have features inconsistent with aura.

Keywords: aura; cortical spreading depression; headache; migraine; migrainous.