Migraines are familiar to many, often accompanied by a haunted expression on those who experience them. A distinctive feature of these often incapacitating headaches is the appearance of psychedelic patterns in the visual field. So, what exactly are these patterns? The unusual visual patterns experienced by some people during a migraine episode are called migraine aura. Not all migraine sufferers experience this phenomenon, and the patterns can vary, but they commonly manifest as jagged zigzag lines, circles, flickering lights, static, or blind spots, often appearing in vivid and vibrant colors.Migraines are a prevalent type of headache disorder, affecting around 12% of the population. Despite the widespread occurrence of migraines, many questions remain unanswered about what specifically occurs during an episode. It is believed that neuronal dysfunction triggers a series of events in the brain.“About 15% to one-third of individuals with migraines experience aura,” stated Dr. Christian Lucas in the journal Revue Neurologique. “Aura refers to a fully reversible focal neurological phenomenon that involves visual, sensory, speech, and/or motor symptoms, usually developing gradually and preceding the onset of the headache.”“Visual aura is the most common type of aura […] It often appears as a fortification spectrum: a zigzag pattern near the point of focus that may gradually expand sideways and assume a laterally convex shape with an angled scintillating edge, leading to complete or varying degrees of relative [blind spot] in its wake.”Lucas indicated that there is substantial evidence suggesting that cortical spreading depression (CSD) may be a significant factor in driving migraine aura. This phenomenon involves a wave of depolarization sweeping through a region of the brain known as the cerebral cortex.CSD can alter blood flow, resulting in various neurological conditions and symptoms, including migraine aura. As CSD develops, it changes the blood flow to different brain regions and triggers the release of neurotransmitters, which can activate different sensory pathways, leading to various sensations. Visual disturbances like migraine aura are likely due to the activation of visual pathways caused by CSD.Migraine aura itself is not dangerous, but there is a risk of misdiagnosis in more serious cases where visual disturbances may be due to conditions such as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a “mini-stroke”.
Not everyone experiences migraine auras, but for those who do, it can be a psychedelic experience.
Migraine aura is also linked to an increased risk of stroke, particularly in individuals using certain types of hormonal birth control. Therefore, those who experience migraines with aura should inform their healthcare provider, as it may be relevant to drug prescriptions or future medical decisions.One advantage of migraine aura is that, although the visual symptoms cannot be halted, they can provide a warning period during which a person can take steps to prevent or reduce the severity of an impending migraine. At least, in terms of warning signs, a scintillating zigzagged rainbow is quite unique. The information in this article is not meant to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals with any questions you may have regarding medical conditions. All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be accurate at the time of publication. The text, images, and links may be edited, removed, or added to at a later date to ensure the information remains current.
