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Neurophysiology of Cluster Headache and Other Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias

  • Gianluca Coppola
  • Armando Perrotta
  • Francesco Pierelli
  • Giorgio Sandrini
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Part of the Headache book series (HEAD)

Abstract

“Cluster headache and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias” is a category of primary headaches characterized by strictly unilateral headache with concomitant ipsilateral facial autonomic features. Their pathophysiology is not fully understood. Many neurophysiological techniques have been used in attempts to disentangle the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these elusive brain disorders. Overall, these investigations have revealed side-to-side differences, in virtually all the sensory modalities explored (both pain-related and non-pain-related), in patients (almost always cluster headache patients) versus healthy controls. Signs of peripheral and central sensitization of the trigeminal system, as well as of the extracephalic spinal pain processing system, have been detected using blink and lower limb withdrawal reflexes in cluster headache. In some cases, acute or prophylactic treatments can reverse these dysfunctions. The use of improved selection criteria and more refined neurophysiological techniques, especially if combined with neuroimaging data, should lead to greater understanding of the nature of the brain dysfunction in trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias.

Keywords

Cluster headache Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias EEG Evoked potentials Reflex Polysomnography Sleep TMS Pain mechanisms 

Abbreviations

BR

Blink reflex

CH

Cluster headache

CPT

Cold pressor test

DBS

Deep brain stimulation

EEG

Electroencephalography

ERPs

Event-related potentials

HCs

Healthy controls

IDAP

Intensity dependence of cortical auditory evoked potentials

LEPs

Laser evoked potentials

LFPs

Local field potentials

nBR

Nociceptive blink reflex

non-REM

Non-rapid eye movement

NWR

Nociceptive withdrawal reflex

REM

Rapid eye movement

SSEPs

Somatosensory evoked potentials

SUNA

Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with cranial autonomic symptoms

SUNCT

Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing

TACs

Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias

TMS

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

TST

Temporal summation threshold

VEP

Visual evoked potential

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Copyright information

© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020

Authors and Affiliations

  • Gianluca Coppola
    • 1
  • Armando Perrotta
    • 2
  • Francesco Pierelli
    • 1
    • 2
  • Giorgio Sandrini
    • 3
    • 4
  1. 1.Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and BiotechnologiesSapienza University of Rome Polo PontinoLatinaItaly
  2. 2.INM-Neuromed, Headache ClinicPozzilli (IS)Italy
  3. 3.Headache Science Center and Headache UnitNational Neurological Institute C. Mondino FoundationPaviaItaly
  4. 4.Department of Brain and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of PaviaPaviaItaly

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