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Does the migraine aura reflect cortical organization?
Article first published online: 9 OCT 2008
DOI: 10.1046/j.1460-9568.2000.00995.x
1460-9568/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=f24cc0b5582a6f8af7d83eee00b2056f825c5624 "European Journal of Neuroscience")
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How to Cite
Dahlem, M. A., Engelmann, R., Löwel, S. and Müller, S. C. (2000), Does the migraine aura reflect cortical organization?. European Journal of Neuroscience, 12: 767–770. doi: 10.1046/j.1460-9568.2000.00995.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 9 OCT 2008
- Article first published online: 9 OCT 2008
- Received 9 July 1999, revised 26 November 1999, accepted 15 December 1999
- Abstract
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- References
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Keywords:
- cat;
- hallucination;
- orientation selectivity;
- primary visual cortex;
- spreading depression
Abstract
Individuals suffering from classical migraine report an astonishing diversity of migraine auras. A frequently reported symptom is a visual hallucination known as fortification illusion (FI). Here we demonstrate that the typical zig-zag pattern of the FI can be reproduced using experimental data of orientation maps of the primary visual cortex (V1) assuming that a continuous excitation front propagates across V1. We put forward a model in which the cortical neurons within this excitation wave are activated sufficiently to contribute to conscious perception. It is shown that the discontinuous repetitive nature of the zig-zag pattern of the FI can reflect the specific layout of visual cortical orientation maps. Additionally, dynamic features of the FI are predicted based on our model.