Identifying neural oscillation and phase synchronization abnormalities in migraine and their predictive values in transcranial magnetic stimulation.

BACKGROUND

Migraine is a prevalent neurological disorder that may substantially disrupt daily function. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been shown to be a promising treatment for migraine, but its treatment efficacy still needs to be optimised. This study aimed to identify abnormal neural oscillations in patients with migraines and evaluate their predictive value for TMS treatments to obtain insights for the optimisation of rTMS paradigms.

METHODS

Patients with migraine received a course of rTMS delivered over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) was assessed at baseline in both patients with migraine and age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

RESULTS

Compared with healthy controls, patients with migraine were characterised by a slower peak alpha frequency (PAF). In addition, patients with migraine demonstrated alpha-band hyperconnectivity between parieto-occipital regions and between fronto-occipital areas. More importantly, parieto-occipital connectivity showed predictive value for rTMS analgesic effects in this population.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings support the potential utility of oscillatory biomarkers for optimising rTMS treatment in patients with migraine.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2200060337).