Brain functional connectivity patterns associated with symptoms of vestibular migraine

Abstract

BackgroundSeveral functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) investigations of patients with vestibular migraine (VM) have revealed abnormal functionality in different networks, indicating that VM is related to alterations in brain function. We sought to investigate the resting-state functional connectivity (FC) patterns during the interictal period in VM by combining data-driven voxel-wise degree centrality (DC) calculations and seed-based FC analyses, and thereby determine the associations between cerebral function and clinical symptoms.MethodsThirty-eight patients with VM and 33 matched normal controls were recruited. DC was calculated and compared between the groups, and the FC of locations showing DC alterations was further tested using a seed-based technique. The participants’ clinical indicators were correlated with the DC and FC values of the brain areas.ResultsIn contrast to the control group, the VM group showed considerably lower DC values in the bilateral medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and significantly higher DC values in the right occipital lobe. In the seed-based FC analyses, patients with VM demonstrated fewer connections of the bilateral mPFC with the bilateral posterior cingulate cortex, right parahippocampus, right cerebellar posterior lobe, bilateral cuneus, and left precuneus. In addition, clinical data from patients, such as pain intensity, episode frequency, and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory score, were negatively related to these FC and DC impairments.ConclusionOur findings showed changes in the default mode network and visual cortex in patients with VM, providing further insights into the complexity of the mechanisms underlying VM.

Aberrant cerebral blood flow and functional connectivity in patients with vestibular migraine: a resting-state ASL and fMRI study

“…Thus, the increased FC between right PreCG and regions of left cuneus and LG suggested enhanced functional connections between motor and visual networks. Similar to our study, previous MRI studies on VM have reported the functional changes in the cuneus and LG [ 17 , 24 , 61 ]. Additionally, we found that the FC between right PreCG and right LG was positively correlated with the frequency of vestibular symptoms.…”