Understanding how awareness of internal body signals affects migraines
Official title: Investigating neural mechanisms of interoceptive awareness in migraine
Funded at Cambridge Health Alliance · NIH-10988094 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the brain understands signals from our bodies, especially for people who get migraines, to see if being more sensitive to pain and other feelings might trigger their headaches.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cambridge Health Alliance NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $164,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03NS135420-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10988094 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who experience chronic migraines and are willing to participate in daily symptom tracking and brain imaging sessions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not suffer from migraines or have other neurological conditions unrelated to migraine may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the brain processes internal body signals, particularly in relation to migraines. Using advanced imaging techniques, the study will explore the role of the insula, a brain region involved in sensory and emotional experiences, in migraine symptoms. Participants will track their migraine phases and symptoms daily, allowing researchers to correlate brain activity with changes in awareness of internal sensations. The goal is to uncover how heightened sensitivity to pain and internal signals may contribute to the onset of migraines.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for managing and preventing migraines by enhancing our understanding of their underlying mechanisms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the neural mechanisms of migraines, but this specific focus on interoceptive awareness is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Cambridge Health Alliance
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Datko, Michael — Cambridge Health Alliance
- Study coordinator: Datko, Michael
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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A basic science project to explore how blocking S1PR1 could help people who have both migraine and temporomandibular disorders by studying pain pathways in animal models.
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.