Quantifying sensory thresholds along the migraine cycle: An exploratory longitudinal study

Abstract

Allodynia; Osmophobia; Phonophobia

Alodínia; Osmofòbia; Fonofòbia

Alodinia; Osmofobia; Fonofobia

Background To date, a number of studies on migraine have cross-sectionally evaluated sensory sensitivity with aversion thresholds/scores along the migraine cycle, reporting a decreased tolerance to sensory stimuli in different sensory modalities. Our hypothesis was that patients with migraine would exhibit heightened sensitivity to sound, light, touch and smell on days where they reported greater headache intensity. Methods This is an exploratory, longitudinal study, carried out over the course of 27 days. Aversion thresholds or scores to sound, light, touch and smell were quantified in six patients with migraine (11.33 ± 6.53 headache days/month). Results Patients reported an increased sensitivity to light (padj = 0.0297), touch (padj = 0.0077), and smell (padj = 0.0201) on days with higher headache intensity. However, a greater sensitivity to sound on days with higher headache intensity was only reported when anxiety levels were high (padj = 1.4e−06). Interestingly, variable levels of tolerance to bothersome light over time can also influence the correlation between light sensitivity and headache intensity (padj = 1.4e−06). Conclusions Based on the present findings, future longitudinal studies evaluating sensory threshold changes along the migraine cycle in patients with migraine should account for the increased tolerance to bothersome light over time as well as the effect of anxiety on auditory sensitivity.

The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: NI salary has been co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (001-P-001682) under the framework of the FEDER Operative Programme for Catalunya 2014–2020, with €1,527,637.88. AMM salary has been partially financed by a predoctoral grant from the “Fundació Institut de Recerca Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron” (VHIR/BEQUESPREDOC/2020/MARTI). AVB salary has been partially financed by a Juan de la Cierva-Formación grant (FJC2018-036804-I) and Juan de la Cierva – Incorporación postdoctoral (IJC2020-043139-I) from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. EC salary has been funded by Río Hortega grant Acción Estratégica en Salud 2017–2020, instituto de Salud Carlos III (CM20/00217).