Headache Physiology Lab Publications
Headache Physiology Lab Publications
Research Papers
2026
Saleh S, Sanford EM, McGeary DD, Cortez MM, Hayward M, Bouldin ED, Kean J, Pugh MJV. Efficacy and outcomes of pharmacological treatments for headaches after traumatic brain injury: A systematic review. Cephalalgia. 2026 Apr;46(4):3331024261441563. doi: 10.1177/03331024261441563. Epub 2026 Apr 17. PMID: 41995457.
2025
Pietrobon D, Brennan KC. Mechanisms underlying CSD initiation implicated by genetic mouse models of migraine. J Headache Pain. 2025 Jan 27;26(1):17. doi: 10.1186/s10194-025-01948-x. PMID: 39871148; PMCID: PMC11773941.
Reinhart KM, Cortez MM, Martindale C, Moskatel LS, Urry JG, Ahmed ZA, Newman A, Pham K, Bartell J, Schwedt T, Aurora S, Digre KB, Baggaley SK, Brennan KC. Increased occurrence of migraine aura and susceptibility to spreading depolarizations at altitude. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Aug 13:2025.08.09.25333153. doi: 10.1101/2025.08.09.25333153. PMID: 40832422; PMCID: PMC12363745.
Hougaard A, Ayata C, Brennan KC, van den Maagdenberg AMJM, Ashina M. The mysterious link between migraine aura and migraine headache. PLoS Biol. 2025 Jun 11;23(6):e3003168. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3003168. PMID: 40498799; PMCID: PMC12157119.
Pensato U, Demchuk AM, Dreier JP, Brennan KC, Sacco S, Romoli M. Aura phenomenon: a proposal for an etiology-based clinical classification. J Headache Pain. 2025 Jan 13;26(1):9. doi: 10.1186/s10194-024-01943-8. PMID: 39806271; PMCID: PMC11727431.
2024
Suryavanshi P, Sawant-Pokam P, Clair S, Brennan KC. Increased presynaptic excitability in a migraine with aura mutation. Brain. 2024 Feb 1;147(2):680-697. doi: 10.1093/brain/awad326. PMID: 37831655; PMCID: PMC10834252.
Reinhart KM, Morton RA, Brennan KC, Carlson AP, Shuttleworth CW. Ketamine improves neuronal recovery following spreading depolarization in peri-infarct tissues. J Neurochem. 2024 May;168(5):855-867. doi: 10.1111/jnc.15923. Epub 2023 Aug 18. PMID: 37596720; PMCID: PMC10986311.
2023
Cortez MM, Martindale C, Brennan KC, Kean J, Millar MM, Knudson A, Katz BJ, Digre KB, Presson AP, Zhang C. Validation of the Utah Photophobia Symptom Impact Scale (version 2) as a headache-specific photophobia assessment tool. Headache. 2023 May;63(5):672-682. doi: 10.1111/head.14516. Epub 2023 May 4. PMID: 37140215; PMCID: PMC10368178.
Hugger SS, Do TP, Ashina H, Goicochea MT, Jenkins B, Sacco S, Lee MJ, Brennan KC, Amin FM, Steiner TJ, Ashina M. Migraine in older adults. Lancet Neurol. 2023 Oct;22(10):934-945. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(23)00206-5. Epub 2023 Sep 14. PMID: 37717587.
Do TP, Hougaard A, Dussor G, Brennan KC, Amin FM. Migraine attacks are of peripheral origin: the debate goes on. J Headache Pain. 2023 Jan 10;24(1):3. doi: 10.1186/s10194-022-01538-1. PMID: 36627561; PMCID: PMC9830833.
Vitale M, Tottene A, Zarin Zadeh M, Brennan KC, Pietrobon D. Mechanisms of initiation of cortical spreading depression. J Headache Pain. 2023 Aug 8;24(1):105. doi: 10.1186/s10194-023-01643-9. Erratum in: J Headache Pain. 2023 Dec 20;24(1):171. doi: 10.1186/s10194-023-01702-1. PMID: 37553625; PMCID: PMC10408042.
Vitale M, Tottene A, Zadeh MZ, Brennan KC, Pietrobon D. Correction: Mechanisms of initiation of cortical spreading depression. J Headache Pain. 2023 Dec 20;24(1):171. doi: 10.1186/s10194-023-01702-1. Erratum for: J Headache Pain. 2023 Aug 8;24(1):105. doi: 10.1186/s10194-023-01643-9. PMID: 38124033; PMCID: PMC10731773.
2022
Suryavanshi P, Reinhart KM, Shuttleworth CW, Brennan KC. Action Potentials Are Critical for the Propagation of Focally Elicited Spreading Depolarizations. J Neurosci. 2022 Mar 16;42(11):2371-2383.
Leibovit-Reiben Z, Ishii R, Dodick DW, Dumkrieger G, Cortez MM, Brennan KC, Digre K, Schwedt TJ. The impact of pre-morbid headaches on headache features and long-term health outcomes following traumatic brain injury: Insights from the American Registry for Migraine Research. Headache. 2022 May;62(5):566-576. doi: 10.1111/head.14311. PMID: 35593782.
Andrew RD, Hartings JA, Ayata C, Brennan KC, Dawson-Scully KD, Farkas E, Herreras O, Kirov SA, Müller M, Ollen-Bittle N, Reiffurth C, Revah O, Robertson RM, Shuttleworth CW, Ullah G, Dreier JP. The Critical Role of Spreading Depolarizations in Early Brain Injury: Consensus and Contention. Neurocrit Care. 2022 Jun;37(Suppl 1):83-101. doi: 10.1007/s12028-021-01431-w. Epub 2022 Mar 7. PMID: 35257321; PMCID: PMC9259543.
Andrew RD, Farkas E, Hartings JA, Brennan KC, Herreras O, Müller M, Kirov SA, Ayata C, Ollen-Bittle N, Reiffurth C, Revah O, Robertson RM, Dawson-Scully KD, Ullah G, Dreier JP. Questioning Glutamate Excitotoxicity in Acute Brain Damage: The Importance of Spreading Depolarization. Neurocrit Care. 2022 Jun;37(Suppl 1):11-30. doi: 10.1007/s12028-021-01429-4. Epub 2022 Feb 22. PMID: 35194729; PMCID: PMC9259542.
2021
Parker PD, Suryavanshi P, Melone M, Sawant-Pokam PA, Reinhart KM, Kaufmann D, Theriot JJ, Pugliese A, Conti F, Shuttleworth CW, Pietrobon D, Brennan KC. Non-canonical glutamate signaling in a genetic model of migraine with aura. Neuron. 2021 Feb 17;109(4):611-628.e8.
Cortez MM, Millsap L, Rea NA, Sciarretta C, Brennan KC. Photophobia and allodynia in persistent post-traumatic headache are associated with higher disease burden. Cephalalgia. 2021 Sep;41(10):1089-1099.
Cortez MM, Millsap L, Brennan KC. Synergistic but separable sensory changes in postural tachycardia syndrome and chronic migraine. Clin Auton Res. 2021 Apr;31(2):263-271.
Villani LA, Digre KB, Cortez MM, Bokat C, Rassner UA, Ozudogru SN. Arachnoiditis, a complication of epidural blood patch for the treatment of low-pressure headache: A case report and systematic review. Headache. 2021 Feb;61(2):244-252. doi: 10.1111/head.14076. Epub 2021 Feb 13. PMID: 33583044.
Cortez MM, Millsap L, Brennan KC. Synergistic but separable sensory changes in postural tachycardia syndrome and chronic migraine. Clin Auton Res. 2021 Apr;31(2):263-271. doi: 10.1007/s10286-020-00740-y. Epub 2020 Nov 10. PMID: 33174112; PMCID: PMC8043970.
2020
Sawant-Pokam PA, Vail TJ, Metcalf CS, Maguire JL, McKean TO, McKean NO, Brennan KC. Preventing neuronal edema increases network excitability after traumatic brain injury. J Clin Invest. 2020 Nov 2;130(11):6005-6020.
Cortez MM, Millsap L, Brennan KC, Campbell CL. Craniofacial Autonomic Dysfunction in Migraine: Implications for Treatment and Prognosis. J Neuroophthalmol. 2020 Mar;40(1):67-73. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000000876. PMID: 31895071.
Suryavanshi P, Reinhart KM, Shuttleworth CW, Brennan KC. Action Potentials Are Critical for the Propagation of Focally Elicited Spreading Depolarizations. J Neurosci. 2022 Mar 16;42(11):2371-2383. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2930-20.2021. Epub 2021 Dec 2. PMID: 34857650; PMCID: PMC8936615.
2019
Cortez MM, Theriot JJ, Rea NA, Gowen FE, Brennan KC. Low-frequency facial hemodynamic oscillations distinguish migraineurs from non-headache controls. Cephalalgia Rep. 2019 Jan 1;2:10.1177/2515816319888216.
Cortez MM, Rae N, Millsap L, McKean N, Brennan KC. Pupil Cycle Time Distinguishes Migraineurs From Subjects Without Headache. Front Neurol. 2019 May 8;10:478.
Pietrobon D, Brennan KC. Genetic mouse models of migraine. J Headache Pain. 2019 Jul 12;20(1):79. doi: 10.1186/s10194-019-1029-5. PMID: 31299902; PMCID: PMC6734414.
2018
Kaufmann D, Brennan KC. The Effects of Chronic Stress on Migraine Relevant Phenotypes in Male Mice. Front Cell Neurosci. 2018 Sep 19;12:294.
2017
Sawant-Pokam PM, Suryavanshi P, Mendez JM, Dudek FE, Brennan KC. Mechanisms of Neuronal Silencing After Cortical Spreading Depression. Cereb Cortex. 2017 Feb 1;27(2):1311-1325.
Kaufmann D, West PJ, Smith MD, Yagen B, Bialer M, Devor M, White HS, Brennan KC. sec-Butylpropylacetamide (SPD), a new amide derivative of valproic acid for the treatment of neuropathic and inflammatory pain. Pharmacol Res. 2017 Mar;117:129-139.
Kaufmann D, Theriot JJ, Zyuzin J, Service CA, Chang JC, Tang YT, Bogdanov VB, Multon S, Schoenen J, Ju YS, Brennan KC. Heterogeneous incidence and propagation of spreading depolarizations. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2017 May;37(5):1748-1762.
Cortez MM, Rea NA, Hunter LA, Digre KB, Brennan KC. Altered pupillary light response scales with disease severity in migrainous photophobia. Cephalalgia. 2017 Jul;37(8):801-811.
2016
Bogdanov VB, Middleton NA, Theriot JJ, Parker PD, Abdullah OM, Ju YS, Hartings JA, Brennan KC. Susceptibility of Primary Sensory Cortex to Spreading Depolarizations. J Neurosci. 2016 Apr 27;36(17):4733-43.
sec-Butylpropylacetamide (SPD) has antimigraine properties. Kaufmann D, Bates EA, Yagen B, Bialer M, Saunders GH, Wilcox K, White HS, Brennan KC.Cephalalgia. 2016 Sep;36(10):924-35.
2014
López-Valdés HE, Clarkson AN, Ao Y, Charles AC, Carmichael ST, Sofroniew MV, Brennan KC. Memantine enhances recovery from stroke. Stroke. 2014 Jul;45(7):2093-2100
Brennan K.C., Mendez JM, Theriot JJ, Sawant PM, Lopez-Valdes HE, Ju YS, Tang, YT. (2014) Minimum Conditions for the Induction of Cortical Spreading Depression in Brain Slices. J Neurophysiol. 2014 Aug 13.
2013
Brennan, K.C., Bates, E.A., Shapiro, R.E., Zyuzin, J., Hallows, W.C., Huang, Y., Lee, H.Y., Jones, C.R., Fu, Y.H., Charles, A.C., and Ptacek, L.J. (2013) Casein kinase 1 delta mutations in familial migraine and advanced sleep phase. Sci Transl Med, 2013 May 1;5(183):183ra56. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3005784.Cover, editorial..
Clarkson, A.N., Lopez-Valdes, H.E., Overman, J.J., Charles, A.C., Brennan, K.C.*, and Carmichael, S.T.* (2013) Multimodal examination of structural and functional remapping in the mouse photothrombotic stroke model. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, doi:10.1038/jcbfm.2013.7. *Equal contribution.
Cortical Sensory Plasticity in a Model of Migraine with Aura. J. Neurosci., 32:15252-15261. Theriot JJ, Toga AW, Prakash N, Ju YS, Brennan KC.
Bogdanov, V.B., Bogdanova, O.V., Koulchitsky, S.V., Chauvel, V., Multon, S., Makarchuk, M.Y., Brennan, K.C., Renshaw, P.F., and Schoenen, J. (2013) Behavior in the open field predicts the number of KCl-induced cortical spreading depressions in rats. Behav Brain Res, Jan 1;236(1):90-3. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.08.004. Epub 2012 Aug 14. PMID: 22981717.
Brennan KC, Chang JC, He D, Huang H, Miura RM, Wilson PL, Wylie JJ. (2013) A Mathematical Model of the metabolic and perfusion effects on cortical spreading depression. PLoS One 2103 14;8(8).
2011
Tang, Y.T., Kim, J., López-Valdés, H.E., Brennan, K.C., and Ju, Y.S. (2011) Development and characterization of a microfluidic chamber incorporating fluid ports with active suction for localized chemical stimulation of brain slices. Lab Chip, Jul 7;11(13):2247-2254. Epub 2011 May 12. PMID: 21562669.
Chang, J.C., Brennan, K.C., and Chou T. (2011) Tracking monotonically advancing boundaries in image sequences using graph cuts and recursive kernel shape priors. IEEE Trans Med Imaging, May;31(5):1008-1020. Epub 2011 Dec 5. PMID: 22156978.
2010
Chang, J.C., Shook, L.L., Biag, J., Nguyen, E.N., Toga, A.W., Charles, A.C., and Brennan, K.C. (2010) Biphasic direct current shift, haemoglobin desaturation and neurovascular uncoupling in cortical spreading depression. Brain, 133(Pt 4):996-1012.
Lopez-Valdes, H.E., Beltran-Parrazal, L., Brennan, K.C., and Charles, A.C. (2010) Bradykinin increases resensitization of purinergic receptor signaling in glioma cells. Cancer Cell Int, 10:35.
Tang, Y.T., Kim, J., Lopez-Valdes, H., Brennan, K.C., and Ju, Y.S. (2010) Microfluidic Chamber with Active Suction Ports for Localized Chemical Stimulation of Brain Slices. Proceedings of IEEE 23rd International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems. Hong Kong, China, 304-307.
2009
Bates, E., Nikai, T., Brennan, K.C., Fu, Y.H., Charles, A., Basbaum, A., Ptacek, L., and Ahn, A. (2009) Sumatriptan alleviates nitroglycerin-induced mechanical and thermal allodynia in mice. Cephalalgia (Epub ahead of print).
2008
Charles, A., and Brennan, K.C. (2008) A touch of increased pain: cutaneous allodynia in migraine. Ann Neurol, 63(2):130-132.
Charles, A.C., and Brennan, K.C. (2008) Glial cell calcium signaling. In: Squire L (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Neuroscience. Elsevier Press.
2007
Charles, A., Flippen, C., Romero Reyes, M., and Brennan, K.C. (2007) Memantine for prevention of migraine: a retrospective study of 60 cases. J Headache Pain, 8(4):248-250.
Brennan, K.C., Romero Reyes, M., Lopez Valdes, H.E., Arnold, A.P., and Charles, A.C. (2007) Reduced threshold for cortical spreading depression in female mice. Ann Neurol, 61(6):603-606.
Brennan KC, Charles A. (2007) Sumatriptan-naproxen combination for acute migraine. Nat Clin Pract Neurol 2007 Nov 11;3(11):604-5.
Brennan, K.C., Beltran-Parrazal, L., Lopez-Valdes, H.E., Theriot, J., Toga, A.W., and Charles, A.C. (2007) Distinct vascular conduction with cortical spreading depression. J Neurophysiol, 97(6):4143-4151.
2006
Beltran-Parrazal, L., López-Valdés, H.E., Brennan, K.C., Díaz-Muñoz, M., de Vellis, J., and Charles, A.C. (2006) Mitochondrial transport in processes of cortical neurons is independent of intracellular calcium. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, 291(6):C1193-1197.
2002
Brennan, K.C., Jurewicz, E.C., Ford, B., Pullman, S.L., and Louis, E.D. (2002) Is essential tremor predominantly a kinetic or a postural tremor? A clinical and electrophysiological study. Mov Disord, 17(2):313-316.
1997
Sakai, N., Brennan, K., Weiss, L., and Matile, S. (1997) Toward Biomimetic Ion Channels Formed by Rigid-Rod Molecules: Length-Dependent Ion-Transport Activity of Oligo(p-Phenylene)s. J Am Chem Soc, 119: 8726-8727.
Review Papers
2019
Pietrobon D, Brennan KC. Genetic mouse models of migraine. J Headache Pain. 2019 Jul 12;20(1): 79.
2018
Brennan KC, Pietrobon D. A Systems Neuroscience Approach to Migraine. Neuron. 2018 Mar 7;97(5):1004-1021.
2012
Digre, K.B., and Brennan, K.C. (2012) Shedding light on photophobia. J Neuroophthalmol, Mar;32(1):68-81. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0b013e3182474548. Review. PMID: 22330853.
Ahn, A.H., and Brennan, K.C. (2012) Unanswered questions in headache: how does a migraine attack stop? Headache, Jan;52(1):186-187. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.2011.02078.x. Epub 2012 Jan 3. PMID: 22221296.
2011
Brennan, K.C. (2011) Turn down the lights! An irritable occipital cortex in migraine without aura. Neurology, 76(3):206-207.
2010
Brennan, K.C., and Charles, A. (2010) An update on the blood vessel in migraine. Curr Opin Neurol, 23(3):266-274.
Charles, A., and Brennan, K.C. (2010) The neurobiology of migraine. Handb Clin Neurol, 97:99-108.
2009
Brennan, K.C., and Charles, A. (2009) Sleep and headache. Semin Neurol, 29(4):406-418.
Brennan, K.C., and Toga, A.W. (2009) Intraoperative optical imaging. In: Frostig R (Ed.), Methods for in vivo Optical Imaging of the Central Nervous System. CRC Press.
Charles, A., and Brennan, K. (2009) Cortical spreading depression-new insights and persistent questions. Cephalalgia, 29(10):1115-1124.
2008
Brennan, K.C., and Charles, A.C. (2008) Mechanisms of cortical spreading depression as targets for migraine therapy. In: OlesenJ, Ramadan N (Eds.), Frontiers in Headache Research: Innovative Drug Development for Headache Disorders. Oxford University Press.
2005
Matsumoto, J., Saver, J.L., Brennan, K.C., and Ringman, J.M. (2005) Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke (MELAS). Reviews in Neurological Diseases, 2(1):30-34.