The Uprising of an Exhausted Brain—An Imperativist View of Migraine
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Imperatives—Stewards to the Nonconscious Mind
3. The Physiology of Pain-Related Behavioural Changes
4. Migraine Attacks—A State of Blaring Imperatives
5. Triggers—The Impetus of Migraine Attacks
6. Changes in the Conspicuity of Imperatives
7. Critical Reflection/Limitations
8. Conclusions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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| Category | Corresponding Triggers | Premonitory Symptoms | Pain Phase | Postdromal Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy level | Sleep disturbance (50%) | Tiredness (31–73%) | Tiredness (84.3%) | Tiredness (46–88%) |
| Sleep deprivation (20%) | Yawning (28–40%) | Yawning (25.4%) | Yawning (14–24%) | |
| Sleeping late (32–43%) | Somnolence (35%) | Somnolence (29%) | ||
| Sensory | Lights (38%) | Light sensitivity (44–49%) | Light sensitivity * | Light sensitivity (26–36%) |
| Sound (58%) | Sound sensitivity (37–38%) | Sound sensitivity * | Sound sensitivity (27–32%) | |
| Perfume/odour (39–44%) | Blurred vision (28.0%) | Blurred vision * | Blurred vision (17%) | |
| Gastrointestinal and urinary tracts | Not eating (44–57%) | Frequent urination (12–16%) | Frequent urination (24.3%) | Frequent urination (10–21%) |
| Nausea/vomiting (24–30%) | Nausea/vomiting * | Nausea/vomiting (10–15%) | ||
| Hunger/food craving (15–18%) | Hunger/food craving (18.1%) | Hunger/food craving (9–15%) | ||
| Thirst (17–26%) | Thirst (32.2%) | Thirst (15–32%) | ||
| Emotional | Stress (58–80%) | Irritability (28–42%) | Irritability (41.0%) | Irritability (20–29%) |
| Being emotional (24.3%) | Being emotional (29.9%) | Being emotional (24%) | ||
| Unhappiness/depressed (18–46%) | Unhappiness (26%) |
| Triggers from the Outer World | Triggers from the Inner World | |
|---|---|---|
| Remaining in an unpleasant situation/neglecting one’s need | Bright lights, noise, intense odour | Not drinking, not eating |
| Increased strenuosity of the contact with the outer world | Physical activity, stress | Illness, sleep deprivation, menstruation |
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Pohl, H. The Uprising of an Exhausted Brain—An Imperativist View of Migraine. Clin. Transl. Neurosci. 2025, 9, 57. https://doi.org/10.3390/ctn9040057
Pohl H. The Uprising of an Exhausted Brain—An Imperativist View of Migraine. Clinical and Translational Neuroscience. 2025; 9(4):57. https://doi.org/10.3390/ctn9040057
Chicago/Turabian StylePohl, Heiko. 2025. "The Uprising of an Exhausted Brain—An Imperativist View of Migraine" Clinical and Translational Neuroscience 9, no. 4: 57. https://doi.org/10.3390/ctn9040057
APA StylePohl, H. (2025). The Uprising of an Exhausted Brain—An Imperativist View of Migraine. Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, 9(4), 57. https://doi.org/10.3390/ctn9040057

