The absolute and proportional EMG levels of the frontal, temporal, and corrugator muscles of 37 migraine patients and 37 matched controls were recorded during three experimental sessions: adaptation and real-life and experimental stress, both of long duration. Migraine patients did not show significantly different absolute EMG levels but had higher proportional EMG levels of the corrugator muscle than controls in each session. Migraine patients did not have different facial muscle responses to stress, and the two experimental groups reacted similarly to real-life and experimental stress. No relation was found between muscle activity and reported headache within 24 h after real-life stress. Increased EMG activity due to stress does not seem to be a significant cause of headache in common migraine as defined in this study, but rather a response to pain. Migraine patients with headache during stress showed lower muscle tension than patients without headache.
PhilipsC.Tension headache: theoretical problems.Behav Res Ther1978;16:249–61.
2.
AndrasikFBlanchardEBArenaJGSaundersNLBarronKD.Psychophysiology of recurrent headache: methodological issues and new empirical findings.Behav Ther1982;13:407–29.
3.
PikoffH.Is the muscular model of headache still viable?A review of conflicting data, Headache1984;24:186–98.
4.
AndersonCDFranksRD.Migraine and tension headache: is there a physiological difference?Headache1981;21:63–71.
5.
FeuersteinMBushCCorbiscieroR.Stress and chronic headache: a psychophysiological analysis of mechanisms.J Psychosom Res1982;26:167–82.
6.
GannonLRHaynesSNSafranekRHamiltonJ.A psychophysiological investigation of muscle-contraction and migraine headache.J Psychosom Res1981;25:271–80.
7.
PhilipsCHunterMS.A psychophysiological investigation of tension headache.Headache1982;22:173–9.
8.
RaczynskiJMThompsonJK.Methodological guidelines for clinical research.Pain1983;15:1–18.
9.
Van BoxtelAGoudswaardPJanssenK.Absolute and proportional resting EMG levels in muscle contraction and migraine headache patients.Headache1983;34:215–22.
10.
Van BoxtelAGoudswaardPSchomakerLRB.Amplitude and bandwidth of the frontal surface EMG: effects of electrode parameters.Psychophysiology1984;21:699–707.
11.
BakalDAKaganovJA.Symptom characteristics of chronic and non-chronic headache sufferers.Headache1979;19:285–9.
12.
ThompsonJKHaberJDFigueroaJLAdamsHE.A replication and generalization of the ‘psychobiological’ model of headache.Headache1980;20:199–203.
13.
KaganovJABakalDADunnBE.The differential contribution of muscle contraction and migraine symptoms to the problem headache in the general population.Headache1981;21:157–63.
14.
RaskinNH.Migraine.Psychosomatics1982;23:897–903.
15.
SaperJR.The mixed headache syndrome: a new perspective.Headache1982;22:284–6.
16.
Van BoxtelAGoudswaardP.Absolute and proportional resting EMG levels in chronic headache patients in relation to the state of headache.Headache1984;24:259–65.
17.
PhilipsC.A psychological analysis of tension headache. In:RachmanS ed.Contributions to medical psychology.Oxford: Pergamon Press1977;1:91–113.
18.
ArenaJGBlanchardEBAndrasikFAppelbaumKMeyersPE.Psychophysiological comparisons of three kinds of headache subjects during and between headache states: analysis of post-stress adaptation periods.J Psychosom Res1985;29:427–41.
19.
WolffHG.Headache and other head pain.New York: Oxford University Press1963.
20.
FriedmanAP.Characteristics of tension headache: a profile of 1,420 cases.Psychosomatics1979;20:451–61.
21.
AbramsonJHHoppCEpsteinLM.Migraine and non-migrainous headaches. A community survey in Jerusalem.J Epidemiol Community Health1980;34:188–93.
22.
GoldsteinMChenTL.The epidemiology of disabling headache.Adv Neurol1982;33:377–90.
23.
PasschierJOrlebekeJF.Headache and stress in schoolchildren: an epidemiological study.Cephalalgia1985;5:167–76.
24.
CramJR.EMG biofeedback and the treatment of tension headaches: a systematic analysis of treatment components.Behav Ther1980;11:699–710.
25.
PasschierJvan der Helm-HylkemaHOrlebekeJF.Psychophysiological characteristics of migraine and tension headache patients. Differential effects of sex and pain state.Headache1984;24:131–9.
26.
BlanchardEBAndrasikF.Psychological assessment and treatment of headache: recent developments and emerging issues.J Consult Clin Psychol1982;50:859–79.
27.
WatersWE edThe epidemiology of migraine.Bracknell: Boehringer Ingelheim1974.
28.
Ad Hoc Committee on the Classification of Headache.A classification of headache.Neurology (Minneap)1962;12:378–80.
29.
Van BoxtelAGoudswaardPvan der MolenGMvan den BoschWEJ.Changes in electromyogram power spectra of facial and jaw-elevator muscles during fatigue.J Appl Physiol1983;54:51–8.
30.
Van de VijverFJR.Group differences in structured tests. In:IrvineSH ed.Proceedings of the Advanced Study Institute1984.Athens(in press).
31.
ThompsonJKAdamsHE.Psychophysiological characteristics of headache patients.Pain1984;18:41–52.
32.
RamirezJJ.A critical analysis of the traditional tension headache model.Headache1985;25:337–9.
33.
Van BoxtelAGoudswaardP.Changes in EMG power spectra during fatigue in muscle contraction and migraine headache patients.Headache1983;23:223–8.
