Abstract

Cortical spreading depression(CSD) seems to be an important phenomenon explaining migraine aura. It occurs in four stages in animal model and starts from the occipital lobes, spreading forward on the cortical surfaces. Neuroimaging studies in migraineurs showed ictal blood flow changes compatible with CSD in the animal models. The brain stem nuclei(raphe and locus ceruleus) and cortical hyperexcitability may well have important role in generating CSD. Presence of CSD in migraine without aura remains controversial. The aura mechanisms in familial hemiplegic migraine and ophthalmoplegic migraine are also discussed. Korean Journal of Headache 1(1):6-14, 2000