Editors: Messoud Ashina and Paolo Martelletti
Migraine pathophysiology is complex and many unanswered questions remain regarding the pathogenesis of migraine. Debates on complex scientific questions are important because they stimulate critical thinking and future directions. In a series of Oxford Union-style debates (for or against the motion), three topics were discussed at the 1st International Conference on Advances in Migraine Sciences (ICAMS 2022) held in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The Premonitory Phase of Migraine is due to Hypothalamic Dysfunction: Some people with migraine report non-headache symptoms before the onset of pain, commonly referred to as the premonitory (or prodromal) phase of migraine. It remains unclear whether any specific symptoms or biological processes are characteristic of this phase.
Migraine Attacks are of Peripheral Origin: The mechanisms that initiate a migraine attack are unknown. Some evidence favors a peripheral origin, whereas other data suggest the origin is within the central nervous system.
Migraine and Cluster Headache Are Two Distinct Disorders: The distinction between migraine and other primary headache disorders is substantiated in the diagnostic criteria, but some evidence suggest overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms.
In this Series, we present key data for or against these motions, summarise lessons learned and provide future direction. For each individual review article, there is a video recording of the debate itself and a visual abstract.
