Polysomnographic Findings in Nights Preceding a Migraine Attack


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Polysomnographic Findings in Nights Preceding a Migraine Attack
R Goder, G Fritzer, etal.
Posted: January 2003
Cephalalgia 2001; 21:31-37

Sleep recordings were performed in eight patients to analyze sleep alterations preceding migraine attacks. Polysomnographic recordings from nights before an attack were compared with nights without following migraine. We analyzed standard sleep parameters and electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectra. The main findings preceding migraine attacks were a significant decrease in the number of arousals, a decrease in rapid eye movement (REM) density, a significant decrease of beta power in the slow wave sleep, and a decrease of alpha power during the first REM period. The results suggest a decrease in cortical activation during sleep preceding migraine attacks. According to the models of sleep regulation, alterations in the function of aminergic or cholinergic brainstem nuclei have to be discussed.

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