Abstract
BackgroundResting state magnetic resonance imaging allows studying functionally interconnected brain networks. Here we were aimed to verify functional connectivity between brain networks at rest and its relationship with thalamic microstructure in migraine without aura (MO) patients between attacks.MethodsEighteen patients with untreated MO underwent 3 T MRI scans and were compared to a group of 19 healthy volunteers (HV). We used MRI to collect resting state data among two selected resting state networks, identified using group independent component (IC) analysis. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values of bilateral thalami were retrieved from a previous diffusion tensor imaging study on the same subjects and correlated with resting state ICs Z-scores.ResultsIn comparison to HV, in MO we found significant reduced functional connectivity between the default mode network and the visuo-spatial system. Both HV and migraine patients selected ICs Z-scores correlated negatively with FA values of the thalamus bilaterally.ConclusionsThe present results are the first evidence supporting the hypothesis that an abnormal resting within networks connectivity associated with significant differences in baseline thalamic microstructure could contribute to interictal migraine pathophysiology.
Highlights
Resting state magnetic resonance imaging allows studying functionally interconnected brain networks
We found a significant difference in functional connectivity between independent components IC20 and IC15 in migraine patients between attacks respective to healthy volunteers
The correlation of independent component pair (IC20-IC15) is significantly lower in migraine without aura (MO) compared to healthy volunteers (HV)
Summary
Resting state magnetic resonance imaging allows studying functionally interconnected brain networks. Various experimental data suggested that the functional state of the migraineur’s brain is altered between attacks This was initially observed with clinical neurophysiology methods that disclosed for instance interictal deficient habituation of sensory responses attributable to abnormal thalamo-cortical interactions [1, 2], and abnormal brain responses to various neuromodulatory techniques [3]. RS-fMRI ICA allows the study of group differences in the temporal relationship among independent spatially distributed networks/ components [12]. With this method, spontaneous brain activity was shown to be organized in specific and distinct spatial patterns, or sets of resting-state networks [13, 14]
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