Can You Change Your Brain?

So if migraine is a symptom of having a brain that’s especially “sensitive” – can you change your brain? An interesting new study suggests that certain training can do that very thing.

The small study, published in the journal Headache in April, tested the idea with 18 adolescents. The adolescents with migraine took part in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-HA). Before the first session, and after the last session, patients underwent resting?state blood?oxygen?level?dependent contrast MRI scans. Arterial spin labeling was also used.

We won’t get into all the technicalities, but essentially brain measurements were taken before and after.

CBT-HA is basically training to learn how to cope with pain, how to think differently. It encourages changes in attitude and behaviour. Originally developed for depression, it’s now being used and studied for many disorders.

The results were very positive – fewer headaches per month, for one thing. But it also appears that there were actual measurable changes in parts of the brain that regulate pain. In other words, it’s a confirmation that we can actually change the way our brains work to fight pain.

This is not a new concept by any means – it’s widely known that we can affect physical changes by changing the way we think. But there’s a lot of study that needs to be done to see how to use this ability effectively to fight migraine and other conditions. And perhaps there is a stigma of this type of treatment – do people still prefer to “just take a pill”?

Meanwhile, positive studies continue to come out showing benefits from CBT. Thanks to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and others who are doing significant research in this area.

Read the study abstract here: Alterations in Brain Function After Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Migraine in Children and Adolescents

For another article discussing the study in more detail, visit 83% Of Patients Had Fewer Migraine Headaches After Doing Therapy