The biological basis of headache

Abstract

This article covers the remarkable recent decades as clinicians and scientists have grappled with understanding headache. It is a challenge to understand how a ‘normal’ brain can become dysfunctional, incapacitating an individual, and then become ‘normal’ again. Does the answer lie in the anatomy, electrical pathways, the chemistry or a combination? How do the pieces fit together? The components are analyzed in this article. Animal models have provided potential answers. However, these processes have never been proven in man. The dynamic imaging of pain and headache is rapidly evolving and providing new insights and directions of research.

Keywords::

• biology
• cortical spreading depression
• imaging
• migraine
• modulation
• sensitization

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The author is a recipient of a research grant from Endo Pharmaceuticals. He is on the Speaker’s Boards for Endo Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.