Artist's depiction of zig-zag lines appearing as part of a migraine aura phenomenon

Artist's depiction of scintillating scotoma

An aura is a perceptual disturbance experienced by some migraine sufferers before a migraine headache, and the telltale sensation experienced by some people with epilepsy before a seizure. It often manifests as the perception of a strange light, an unpleasant smell or confusing thoughts or experiences. Some people experience aura without a subsequent migraine or seizure (see silent migraine).

When occurring, auras allow epileptics time to prevent injury to themselves and/or others. The time between the appearance of the aura and the migraine lasts from a few seconds up to an hour. The aura can stay with a migraine sufferer for the duration of the migraine, depending on the type of aura this can leave the person disoriented and confused. It is not uncommon for migraine sufferers to experience more than one type of aura during the migraine. Most people who have auras have the same type of aura every time.

Auras can also be confused with sudden onset of panic, panic attacks or anxiety attacks creating difficulties in diagnosis. The differential diagnosis of patients who experience symptoms of paresthesias, derealization, dizziness, chest pain, tremors, and palpitations can be quite challenging.^[1]

Examples [link]

An aura sensation can include some or a combination of the following:

Visual changes [link]

• Bright lights and blobs
• Zigzag lines
• Distortions in the size or shape of objects
• Vibrating visual field
• Scintillating scotoma
  • Shimmering, pulsating patches, often curved
  • Tunnel vision
• Scotoma
  • Blind or dark spots in the field of vision
  • Curtain-like effect over one eye
  • Slowly spreading spots
• Kaleidoscope effects on visual field
• Total temporary monocular (in one eye) blindness (in retinal migraine)^[2]
• Heightened sensitivity to light

Auditory changes [link]

• Hearing voices or sounds that do not exist: true auditory hallucinations
• Modification of voices or sounds in the environment: buzzing, tremolo, amplitude modulation or other modulations
• Heightened sensitivity to hearing
• Someone speaking at a level and normal tone sounds like they are shouting loudly

Other sensations [link]

• Strange smells (Phantosmia) or tastes (Gustatory hallucinations), or where food and drinks taste different than usual
• Heightened sensitivity to smell
• Feelings of déjà vu or confusion
• Feelings of numbness or tingling on one side of the face or body
• Feeling separated from one's body
• Feeling as if the limbs are moving independently from the body
• Feeling as if one or multiple limbs are growing
• Feeling as if the mouth is too small for the teeth inside
• Feeling as if one has to eat or go to the bathroom
• Feeling as if one is going to vomit
• Feeling as if you are getting warmer or overheating
• Sudden Perspiration
• Anxiety or fear
• Weakness, unsteadiness
• Saliva collecting in the mouth
• Being unable to understand or comprehend spoken words during and after the aura
• Being unable to speak properly, such as slurred speech or gibberish, despite the brain grasping what the person is trying to verbalize (aphasia)
• Temporary amnesia, such as forgetting how to do tasks you have been doing for years

Uses [link]

The specific type of sensation associated with an aura can potentially be used in an attempt to localize the focus of a seizure.

Auras share similar symptoms with strokes, but onset is more gradual with auras.^[3] Auras can last from several seconds to as long as an hour, and can sometimes end with feelings of extreme tiredness, weakness, heart palpitation, sweating and warmth throughout one's body.

The onset of an aura can provide an early warning for those experiencing migraines.

See also [link]

• Complex partial seizure
• Hallucination
• Paresthesia
• Simple partial seizure
• Synesthesia

References [link]

External links [link]

• About.com aura summary
• Epilepsy.com information
• Migraine Aura Foundation
• MAGNUM, the National Migraine Association
• Epilepsy Action information
• Migraines with 'aura' raise women's stroke risk