HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Drummond, P. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Drummond, P. D. Related Collections Migraine All Neuro-ophthalmology Vertigo Cardiac

Effect of tryptophan depletion on symptoms of motion sickness in migraineurs

From the School of Psychology, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Peter Drummond, School of Psychology, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Western Australia; e-mail: p.drummond{at}murdoch.edu.au.

Seven hours after 39 migraineurs and 37 controls consumed an amino acid drink that contained or omitted l-tryptophan (thereby reducing brain serotonin synthesis), motion sickness was provoked by the visual illusion of movement. Tryptophan depletion boosted dizziness, nausea, and the illusion of movement in controls to levels that approached those of migraineurs. Thus, reduced brain serotonin activity may promote vestibuloocular disturbances during motion sickness and attacks of migraine.

Supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and the U.K. Migraine Trust.

Disclosure: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Received January 10, 2005. Accepted in final form April 22, 2005.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. Sakai, C. Dobson, M. Diksic, M. Aube, and E. Hamel Sumatriptan normalizes the migraine attack-related increase in brain serotonin synthesis Neurology, February 5, 2008; 70(6): 431 - 439. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. L. Brey Both migraine and motion sickness may be due to low brain levels of serotonin Neurology, August 23, 2005; 65(4): E9 - E10. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]