Objectives To investigate the structural and functional connectivity changes of lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and their relationships with clinical characteristics in patients without aura. Methods Conventional MRI, 3D structure images and resting state functional MRI were performed in 30 migraine patients without aura (MwoA) and 22 healthy controls (HC). The lateral geniculate nucleus volumes and the functional connectivity (FC) of bilateral lateral geniculate nucleus were computed and compared between groups. Results The lateral geniculate nucleus volumes in patient groups did not differ from the controls. The brain regions with increased FC of the left LGN mainly located in the left cerebellum and right lingual gyrus in MwoA compared with HC. The increased FC of right LGN located in left inferior frontal gyrus in MwoA compared with HC. The correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between VLSQ-8 score and the increased FC of left cerebellum and right lingual gyrus. Conclusions Photophobia in MwoA could be mediated by abnormal resting state functional connectivity in visual processing regions, the pain perception regulatory network and emotion regulation network. This result is valuable to further understanding about the clinical manifestation and pathogenesis of migraine.

中文翻译：

---

无先兆偏头痛中外侧膝状核功能连接的改变：静息态功能 MRI 研究

目的 探讨无先兆患者外侧膝状核（LGN）结构和功能连接的变化及其与临床特征的关系。方法对30例无先兆偏头痛患者（MwoA）和22例健康对照（HC）进行常规MRI、3D结构图像和静息态功能MRI检查。计算并比较组间的外侧膝状核体积和双侧外侧膝状核的功能连接性（FC）。结果患者组的外侧膝状核体积与对照组没有差异。与HC相比，MwoA中左侧LGN FC增加的脑区主要位于左侧小脑和右侧舌回。与 HC 相比，MwoA 中位于左侧额下回的右侧 LGN FC 增加。相关分析显示，VLSQ-8评分与左侧小脑、右侧舌回FC增加呈正相关。结论 MwoA 畏光可能是由视觉处理区、痛觉调节网络和情绪调节网络异常静息态功能连接介导的。该结果对于进一步了解偏头痛的临床表现和发病机制具有重要价值。