Marianne Schwarz: What happens to your brain during a migraine?

What happens to your brain during a migraine?

A throbbing, pounding headache. Bright zigzagging lines across your field of vision. Sensitivity to light, lingering fatigue, disrupted sleep. While an incapacitating headache is one of the most common symptoms, a migraine can include any of these experiences. So what exactly is a migraine? And what causes it? Marianne Schwarz explores what we know— and don't know— about this complex disorder. [Directed by CUB Animation, narrated by Alexandra Panzer, music by József Iszlai]. 

Migraines involve far more than pain, with symptoms like visual auras, fatigue, and heightened sensitivity to light or sound. Affecting up to one third of women and thirteen percent of men, they are linked to hormonal changes and can even occur without any headache. Scientists know migraines affect many parts of the brain, including the hypothalamus and trigeminal nerve, but many triggers remain mysterious. Genetics and neurological sensitivity play major roles, and people with migraines often experience other health challenges.