The Renaissance and the Beginnings of Neurology
The Renaissance (14th–17th centuries) revived interest in anatomy and physiology. Andreas Vesalius (1514–1564), through his detailed human dissections, challenged many ancient medical ideas. Although he did not specifically study migraine, this period laid the groundwork for understanding the brain and nervous system.
Physicians began to suspect that migraines involved the nervous system rather than just humoral imbalances. However, effective treatments were still elusive, and many remedies ranged from herbal medicines to purgatives.
Advances in Clinical Observation
The 18th century brought more systematic clinical observations. British physician William Cullen (1710–1790) distinguished migraine as a distinct medical condition in his lectures. He emphasized the role of nervous system irritation as a cause.
In 1745, the term “hemicrania,” meaning "half the skull," was used to describe the unilateral headache typical of migraines.
19th Century: Characterizing Migraine Aura
The 19th century witnessed the first detailed attempts to classify and explain migraine aura scientifically. French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot (1825–1893) and British neurologist William Gowers (1845–1915) contributed to understanding migraine’s neurological basis.
Aura phenomena, such as visual disturbances, were linked to temporary changes in brain function. The connection between migraines and vascular changes (blood vessel constriction and dilation) was hypothesized but not yet proven.
The term "migraine" itself derives from the French migraine and the Greek hemikrania. It gained popularity in medical literature to distinguish this type of headache from other headache disorders. shutdown123