Multilevel clinical connectome fingerprinting: uncovering functional connectivity changes across the migraine cycle

Motivation: Case-control fMRI studies spanning the entire migraine cycle are lacking, precluding a complete assessment of brain functional connectivity in migraine. Such studies are essential for understanding the inherent changes in the brain of migraine patients as well as transient changes along the cycle. Goal(s): Our goal was to determine the influence of the migraine cycle on individual functional connectome fingerprints. Approach: Functional connectivity (FC) was longitudinally studied for migraine patients (across the four different cycle phases) and matched healthy controls. Results: We observed greater heterogeneity in FC patterns of migraine patients and significant changes in FC across the cycle compared to controls. Impact: This work represents the first case-control fMRI longitudinal study across the whole migraine cycle. Building upon clinical connectome fingerprinting, applied for the first time to migraine, it tackles a major cause of disability worldwide, contributing to developing connectome-based disease biomarkers.