Investigation of hippocampus subfield volumes in patients with migraine without aura: a brain segmentation study

The study aimed to investigate hippocampal and subfield volumes in migraine patients without aura, analyzing changes associated with the condition. One hundred twenty-five migraine patients (63 females, 62 males) and 125 healthy controls (64 females, 61 males) were included, with hippocampal and subfield volumes measured using volBrain and segmented using the Winterburn atlas. T1-weighted images were processed via the HIPS (Hippocampus Segmentation) pipeline. Results showed significantly larger right (2.351±0.298 cm³ vs. 2.262±0.354 cm³) and left (2.279±0.285 cm³ vs. 2.198±0.353 cm³) hippocampal volumes in migraine patients compared to controls (p<0.05). Subfield analysis revealed larger right CA4-DG (Cornu Ammonis4- Dentate Gyrus), SR-SL-SM (Stratum Radiatum-Stratum Lacunosum-Stratum Moleculare), and subiculum volumes in the migraine group, with the left subiculum also larger (p<0.05). Gender analysis indicated that male migraine patients had significantly larger right hippocampus, CA4-DG, SR-SLSM, and subiculum volumes, while the left subiculum was larger in both male and female migraine patients compared to controls (p<0.05). These findings highlight structural differences in the hippocampus and its subfields in migraine patients, particularly in males, supporting the association between the hippocampus and migraine and contributing to the existing literature.