Headache-specific Hyperexcitation Sensitises and Habituates on different Time Scales: An Event Related Potential study of Pattern-Glare

Cortical hyperexcitability is a key pathophysiological feature in several neurological disorders, including migraine, epilepsy, tinnitus, and Alzheimers disease. We examined the temporal characteristics of Evoked Related Potentials (ERPs) in a healthy population using the Pattern Glare Test, a diagnostic tool used to assess patients with sensitivity to cortical hyperexcitability. During the experiment, participants recorded state measures with this study focussing on susceptibility to migraine. We investigated two timeframes: habituation over the course of the experiment and sensitization over the course of stimulus presentation. We found evidence of hyperexcitability in the visual cortex, for the clinically aggravating stimuli (medium). Participants who reported a higher state measure exhibited a higher degree of habituation and sensitization, which was dependent on susceptibility to migraine. These findings suggest that the same experimental paradigm and analysis should be performed on a clinically diagnosed population.