Central cognitive processing assessed by P300 in migraine, tension‑type headache, and cluster headache

Arun Singh; Deepika Joshi; Ranveer Yadav; Prakash Sinha; Vivek Sharda; Ajay Yadav; Sandeep Chaudhary; Sagar Kawale; Garima Gupta; Vijay Nath Mishra; Rameshwar Nath Chaurasia; Abhishek Pathak

Arun Singh Department of Neurology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Deepika Joshi Department of Neurology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Ranveer Yadav Department of Neurology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Prakash Sinha Department of Neurology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Vivek Sharda Department of Neurology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Ajay Yadav Department of Neurology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Sandeep Chaudhary Department of Neurology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Sagar Kawale Department of Neurology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Garima Gupta Department of Neurology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Vijay Nath Mishra Department of Neurology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Rameshwar Nath Chaurasia Department of Neurology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Abhishek Pathak Department of Neurology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Keywords: Event‑related potentials, migraine, P300, primary headache

Abstract

Background and Aim: Patients with primary headaches are increasingly recognized to have impairments in various neuropsychological functions. However, there is a paucity of data on the cognitive functions of patients with primary headaches, especially during a headache‑free period in Indian population. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate a cohort of primary headache patients and healthy controls using an auditory P300. Methods: There were 75 patients including 51 migraine, 16 tension‑type headache, and 8 cluster headache patients. They were subjected to a thorough neurological evaluation, following which they were evaluated with an auditory P300 using the oddball paradigm. Results: Significantly, prolonged latencies (P < 0.001) were seen at Fz, Cz, and Pz in all cases as compared to controls. Further, comparison of all three groups with control and comparison of individual group with controls yielded similar results. Conclusion: Abnormal P300 observed in these patients even during the interictal period suggests the presence cognitive abnormalities in patients with a primary headache.