Question

A patient at a neurology clinic reports that she cannot see objects presented to her periphery during a migraine. The neurologist tells her this means she is experiencing a(n) aura during a migraine attack.

A) Focal seizure
B) Sensory hallucination
C) Flashback episode
D) Cortical spreading depression

Answer 1

During a migraine, an aura that includes temporary loss of peripheral vision relates to cortical spreading depression, a neurological wave of activity causing such disturbances, not a focal seizure, sensory hallucination, or flashback episode.

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient experiencing an inability to see objects in their periphery during a migraine is described as having an aura, which is a common neurological symptom before or during a migraine. This doesn't align with the clinical presentations of focal seizure, sensory hallucination, or flashback episodes, but rather with cortical spreading depression, which is characterized by a wave of altered neurological activity that may lead to such visual disturbances. This phenomenon is part of the pathophysiology of migraines and can precede the headache phase, leading to transient visual, sensory, or motor symptoms.