Brain and head-nerve pathways behind migraine pain
Central vs. Peripheral Mechanisms of Headache: Cortex, Thalamus, Dorsal Horn
Researchers are comparing how specific brain regions and head nerves produce migraine headache in people who get migraines, including those with aura.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11309603 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at how a wave of brain activity called cortical spreading depression (the event behind migraine aura) affects pain pathways from the meninges up to the thalamus and cortex. Using detailed neuronal recordings and laboratory models, scientists will compare activity in first-, second-, and third-order neurons to find where prolonged pain signaling starts. The team will pay special attention to the thalamus because it connects strongly with the cortex and contains neurons with bilateral receptive fields that may explain one- versus two-sided headache. The goal is to fill a gap left by prior work that measured early pain neurons but did not examine thalamic responses to cortical spreading depression.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who experience recurrent migraines, especially those who have aura or headaches that are one-sided or switch sides, are most relevant to the findings.
Not a fit: People with non-migraine headache types or headaches caused by structural disorders or other medical conditions are less likely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new brain-targeted approaches to prevent or reduce migraine pain.
How similar studies have performed: Previous single-unit recording studies in animals showed prolonged activation in first- and second-order meningeal pathways after cortical spreading depression, but effects on thalamic third-order neurons remain largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Strassman, Andrew Mark — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Strassman, Andrew Mark
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.