Migraine with Aura: What Those Weird Visual Warnings Mean

Hi Neurocurious, Dr. Claudia here. About 1 in 4 people with migraines get auras—those freaky visual zigzags, sparkles, or pins-and-needles tingles that hit before the headache kicks in.

What's Happening in Your Brain?

Picture this: a slow-moving "wave" called cortical spreading depression rolls through your occipital cortex (the vision center at the back of your brain) at about 3 mm per minute. It messes with nerve cells, creating those classic zigzag lines that march from the center of your vision outward. Tingling on one side of your face or hand? That's the wave hitting your sensory cortex next door.

It's like a temporary brain glitch— it excites neurons first, then quiets them down, which is why fMRI scans show blood flow changes exactly matching what you see.

The Scary Part: Stroke Mimicry

These symptoms can look exactly like a mini-stroke (TIA), so don't ignore red flags: aura lasting over an hour, weakness (not just tingling), or anything new after age 50. Rare types like hemiplegic migraine increase your stroke risk—get to a hospital STAT if things feel off or different.

Quick Tips to Manage Your Migraines and Auras

Track Your Patterns: Use an app or a calendar to log what sets it off (stress? hormones?) to cut episodes.

When to Panic (and go to the Emergency Room): Sudden onset, weakness, fever, confusion, loss of consciousness or first aura ever after 40—don't wait.

Auras messing with your life? Chat with us, let us know your experience in the form below. 

See you soon, Neurocurious.