Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation of the visual cortex for migraine prevention: a proof-of-concept study

Prophylaxis is challenging in migraine because of the low efficiency/tolerability ratio of most drugs [1]. Abnormal excitability of the cerebral cortex seems implicated in migraine pathophysiology [2]. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can durably modify the activity of a target cortex and thus be a promising treatment [3]. We have shown that the cerebral cortex, namely the visual cortex, is hyperreactive in migraineurs between attacks and hypothesized that this may be related more to a decreased preactivation level than to hyperexcitability per se [2]. Anodal, rather than cathodal, tDCS might be the stimulation modality of choice in migraine.