Pupillary and digital vascular responses to stress in migrainous and non-migrainous subjects
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Date
2013-10-02
Authors
Bednarczyk, George S.
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Abstract
he vasoconstriction phase of the migraine sequence is presumed to
be the result of aberrant sympathetic responsiveness to stress. The present
study examined migraine and control group responses to two stressful
conditions, word-naming and cold pressor. Twenty-seven migraineurs and
27 controls matched on relevant variables were recruited through advertisements.
Digital blood volume and pupil size were the dependent variables.
Stress recovery was monitored following each stress condition. Group digferences
in stress inhibition of the pupillary light-reflex were examined
by presenting light stimulation to the pupil contiguously with the two
stress stimuli. Migraineurs overall blood volume reduction was greater
than controls during word-naming and cold pressor. Post stress recovery
differences in blood volume were not found. Migraine and control pupil
size responses were not different during either stressor or during either
stress recovery period. No differences in pupillary light-reflex, inhibition
were found. These data were interpreted as suggesting that migraineurs
are "vulnerable" to exaggerated vascular responsiveness to stress
and possibilities for further research in this area were discussed.
An ancillary analysis showed a positive relationship between group differences
in diastolic blood pressure and differences in blood volume responses
to stress. These data were viewed as suggestive of a possible
link between migraine and hypertension and avenues for further research
were discussed. A significant relationship between group differences on
trait anxiety, state anxiety, and neuroticism and group differences in
blood volume responses to stress was not found. it was concluded that
psychopathology was neither characteristic of the migraineur nor instrumental
in the initiation of migraine. Issues for migraine treatment were discussed.
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Keywords
Migraines