Cortical spreading depression and migraine: new insights from imaging?

The possibility that spreading depression (SD) of cortical activity, a phen omenon observed in all vertebrates, causes the sura of migraine remains an open question in spite of nearly half a century of investigation. SD is als o thought to be associated with the progressive neuronal injury observed du ring cerebral ischaemia, Thus, the ability to detect and investigate SD in humans m ig ht prove clinically significant,Animal studies of cortical spre ading depression (CSD) have benefited greatly from the advent of relatively noninvasive imaging techniques. The use of these new imaging techniques fo r clinical studies will accelerate progress in this area of neurobiology.