Psychophysiological Response Patterns in Migraine Patients

Abstract

Cardiovascular responses to strong auditory stimulation were compared in common migraine patients and controls. Two matched groups of eight subjects participated in two laboratory sessions. During each session, baseline recording of the cardiovascular variables was followed by twenty auditory stimuli (95 dB, 1000 Hz), sounded at irregular intervals. Phasic responses in heart rate and pulse wave amplitudes in the superficial temporal arteries were measured. A post stimulation sampling period ended each session. Different cardiovascular response patterns were found in the two groups. The migraine patients showed more pronounced heart rate responses and slower habituation to stimulation. Stronger pulse wave amplitude reduction during stimulation and an increase during the post stimulation period was also found in the migraine group.