Differential EMG activity in subjects with muscle contraction headaches related to mental effort.

Abstract

SYNOPSISEMG activity of two groups of subjects was compared: seven subjects with frequent muscle contraction headaches, associated with mental effort, and eleven subjects without headaches. The EMG activity of frontalis, temporalis, trapezius muscles and forearm flexors was studied at rest (baseline) and during a mental task. Only the frontalis EMG activity differentiated reliably between the two groups, both at rest and during task.