MigraineNCT07546201
Investigation of Imagery Abilities in Individuals With Migraine
An observational study of Migraine and Healthy Participants, run by Hacettepe University.
Trial summary
The aim of this study is to compare the motor imagery abilities of patients with migraine to those of healthy individuals, and to examine the relationship between motor imagery and proprioception (cervical and trunk), balance, body awareness, anxiety, and depression levels. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Migraine, Healthy Participants
- How many people
- 126 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 16 Sep 2026to 30 Aug 2027
- How long will I take part?
- 2 Days
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: migraine patients
Who may be able to join
- Migraine Patients:
- Diagnosed with migraine by a neurologist according to ICHD-3 criteria
- Aged 18-65 years
- Score greater than 21 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
- Healthy Participants:
- Aged 18-65 years
- Score greater than 21 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Who cannot join
- (for both migraine and healthy control groups):
- Presence of additional neurological or orthopedic disorders
- Current use of psychiatric medications
- Severe musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, or other medical conditions that would prevent participation in the study
- Significant visual or hearing impairments
- Severe cognitive impairment, as determined by a physician, that would interfere with the administration of tests.
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Investigation of Imagery Abilities in Individuals With Migraine and the Relationship Between Imagery Abilities and Proprioception, and Balance
The aim of this study is to compare the motor imagery abilities of patients with migraine to those of healthy individuals, and to examine the relationship between motor imagery and proprioception (cervical and trunk), balance, body awareness, anxiety, and depression levels. Additionally, the study aims to investigate the relationship between proprioception and balance in patients with migraine. Motor imagery abilities of patients with migraine and healthy control subjects (aged 18-65 years; planned sample size: 68 individuals in each group, 68 migraine patients and 68 healthy participants) will be assessed using the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3, the Motor Imagery Ability Test, mental chronometry, mental rotation tasks, and functional MRI (fMRI) during motor imagery of different tasks. Additionally, in patients with migraine, cervical and trunk proprioception, balance, body awareness, the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, the Vertigo Symptom Scale, the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale will be evaluated.
- Hypothesis H0: There is no difference in motor imagery abilities between patients with migraine and healthy controls. H1: There is a difference in motor imagery abilities between patients with migraine and healthy controls.
- Hypothesis H0: There is no relationship between motor imagery abilities and proprioception in patients with migraine. H1: There is a relationship between motor imagery abilities and proprioception in patients with migraine.
- Hypothesis H0: There is no relationship between proprioception (cervical/trunk) and balance in patients with migraine. H1: There is a relationship between proprioception (cervical/trunk) and balance in patients with migraine.
- Hypothesis H0: There is no relationship between motor imagery abilities and body awareness, anxiety, and depression in patients with migraine.
H1: There is a relationship between motor imagery abilities and body awareness, anxiety, and depression in patients with migraine.
Read the detailed description
Motor imagery is defined as the mental simulation of a movement without its physical execution. During motor imagery, brain regions activated during actual motor performance are similarly engaged. Motor imagery can be divided into visual (external or internal perspective) and kinesthetic (internal sensation of movement) components, and it activates several cerebral regions, including the premotor cortex, supplementary motor area, primary motor cortex, parietal lobe, cerebellum, and basal ganglia.
Migraine is a complex neurological disorder that can lead to impairments in emotional, cognitive, and sensory functions. Migraine symptoms are not limited to pain and are associated with alterations in thalamic activity, as well as connections involving trigeminal-cortical or intracortical networks and interactions between the thalamus and the limbic system. Despite being relatively young and not exhibiting significant motor control deficits, recent evidence suggests that patients with migraine may present with balance impairments. These individuals may experience impaired postural stability during quiet standing under altered surface and visual input conditions, and their limits of stability tend to decrease during dynamic tasks such as walking, obstacle negotiation, and sit-to-stand transitions.
Motor imagery-based exercises have been shown to be effective in reducing pain, improving motor control, and regulating psychological status in pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia, chronic low back pain, and neck pain. These effects highlight the potential role of motor imagery in pain perception, body awareness, and cognitive-emotional regulation. Furthermore, several studies have demonstrated that motor imagery training has positive effects on balance and mobility in older adults, walking performance, fatigue, and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis, and trunk muscle control and proprioception in individuals with stroke.
There is a lack of comprehensive research on motor imagery in patients with migraine in the current literature. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare the motor imagery abilities of patients with migraine to those of healthy individuals and to investigate the relationships between motor imagery and proprioception (cervical and trunk), balance, body awareness, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, the study aims to examine the relationship between proprioception and balance in patients with migraine.
- Conditions
- Migraine, Healthy Participants
- Keywords
- Imagery, migraine, proprioception, balance
- Medical subject headings
- Migraine Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| migraine patients | Not described | |
| Healthy Participants | Not described |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Headache Assessment: Numerical Pain Scale
The numeric pain scale is used to assess the severity of a headache.The pain a person feels is evaluated on a scale from "0: no pain at all" to "10: I feel very severe pain."
Measured: From August 2026 to January 2027
Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3
The Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 is the most up-to-date version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire and the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised, Second Edition.The questionnaire consists of 12 items and separately evaluates external, internal, and kinesthetic imagery abilities. After each imagery task, individuals rate their experience on a scale from 1 to 7 (1 - very difficult to feel/see, 7 - very easy to feel/see).
Measured: From August 2026 to January 2027
Motor Imagery Ability Test
The ability to imagine movement is used to test the controllability component of imagery (CC). It is defined as the ability to manipulate, transform, or maintain an imagined body movement over time
Measured: From August 2026 to January 2027
Mental Chronometry
The administration of questionnaires is quite easy and quick. However, the subjectivity arising from individuals rating themselves in these questionnaires should not be overlooked. Mental chronometry can be defined as the time required by the neural system to process information. It is based on a different foundation than the questionnaires mentioned above. Mental chronometry is a parameter that measures the duration of motor imagery and is based on the assumption that the time required to perform a movement is the same as the time needed to imagine it. Compared to questionnaires, mental chronometry is a more objective measure; however, it does not evaluate the clarity or vividness of imagery. Mental chronometry measurements are planned to be carried out using the method described by Oostra et al.
Measured: From August 2026 to January 2027
Mental Rotation Ability
Mental Rotation is one of the visuospatial abilities and can be simply defined as the mental rotation of objects in three dimensions. To evaluate mental rotation ability, three-dimensional objects such as cubes or body parts like the hands and feet can be used. Mental rotation ability is frequently assessed using hand images. The basic principle of hand mental rotation tests is to determine whether a hand image, presented from different angles and orientations, belongs to the right or left hand. In our study, since we focus on the neck region and balance ability, the Recognise Neck and Foot applications, which include images of the neck and feet, will be used.
Measured: From August 2026 to January 2027
Assessment of motor imagery of different tasks using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
The task is to perform visual motor imagery and kinesthetic motor imagery in accordance with the instructions, taking into account the tasks included in the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3.The stimuli will be presented via projection onto a mirror mounted on the head coil of the Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner. All participants will first be instructed to perform visual motor imagery (first-person internal egocentric imagery) and then kinesthetic motor imagery. The procedure is planned to be carried out using the method applied by Kwon et al.
Measured: From August 2026 to January 2027
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment is a neuropsychological test used to evaluate cognitive domains such as memory, attention, executive functions, visuospatial abilities, language, abstraction, and orientation. The scale includes items assessing attention and concentration, executive functions, memory, language, visuospatial skills, abstract thinking, calculation, and orientation.
The total score ranges from 0 to 30. In the standardization study conducted in our country, the cutoff score for distinguishing healthy individuals from those with mild cognitive impairment was determined as 21.
Measured: From August 2026 to January 2027
The Migraine Disability Assessment
The Migraine Disability Assessment scale measures headache-related disability and includes five functional questions related to work, school, and household activities. The MIDAS score is calculated by counting the number of days in which the patient's performance is reduced or absent.
Measured: From August 2026 to January 2027
Secondary outcomes (4)
Cervical Proprioception Assessment
The Cervical Joint Position Sense Test is used to assess cervical position sense. In this test, a laser pointer attached to the participant's head and a board with concentric circles drawn at 1 cm intervals are used. Participants are asked to sit on a chair with back support. The distance between the panel and the participant is set at 90 cm. The laser pointer is aligned with the center of the board. Participants are asked to close their eyes and memorize this central point.
Measured: from August 2026 to January 2027
Trunk Proprioception Assessment
Proprioception measurement is planned using a Dualer IQ Pro Digital Inclinometer with a repositioning test during trunk flexion. A target angle of 30° flexion is used.
Measured: from August 2026 to January 2027
Neck Awareness Assement
The Fremantle Neck Awareness Questionnaire is a 9-item questionnaire that evaluates attention, proprioceptive sensation (body awareness), neglect, and the perception of the neck's shape and size. A higher score on the Fremantle Neck Awareness Questionnaire indicates lower neck awareness.
Measured: from August 2026 to January 2027
Balance Assessment
Balance assessment will be performed using the HUR Smart Balance device on both firm and soft surfaces, with eyes open and closed.
Measured: from August 2026 to January 2027
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Apr 2026
- Study start16 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Aug 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for MigraineStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Hacettepe UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 126 participants (estimated)
- Target duration
- 2 Days
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Hacettepe University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Makbule Ozel, Hacettepe University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07546201
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- FTREK25/172
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 4 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 28 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Investigation of Imagery Abilities in Individuals With Migraine and the Relationship Between Imagery Abilities and Proprioception, and Balance
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07546201
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- FTREK25/172
- Conditions
- Migraine, Healthy Participants
- Keywords
- Imagery, migraine, proprioception, balance
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 126 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Hacettepe UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 16 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 22 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The aim of this study is to compare the motor imagery abilities of patients with migraine to those of healthy individuals, and to examine the relationship between motor imagery and proprioception (cervical and trunk), balance, body awareness, anxiety, and depression levels. Additionally, the study aims to investigate the relationship between proprioception and balance in patients with migraine. Motor imagery abilities of patients with migraine and healthy control subjects (aged 18-65 years; planned sample size: 68 individuals in each group, 68 migraine patients and 68 healthy participants) will be assessed using the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3, the Motor Imagery Ability Test, mental chronometry, mental rotation tasks, and functional MRI (fMRI) during motor imagery of different tasks. Additionally, in patients with migraine, cervical and trunk proprioception, balance, body awareness, the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, the Vertigo Symptom Scale, the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale will be evaluated.
- Hypothesis H0: There is no difference in motor imagery abilities between patients with migraine and healthy controls. H1: There is a difference in motor imagery abilities between patients with migraine and healthy controls.
- Hypothesis H0: There is no relationship between motor imagery abilities and proprioception in patients with migraine. H1: There is a relationship between motor imagery abilities and proprioception in patients with migraine.
- Hypothesis H0: There is no relationship between proprioception (cervical/trunk) and balance in patients with migraine. H1: There is a relationship between proprioception (cervical/trunk) and balance in patients with migraine.
- Hypothesis H0: There is no relationship between motor imagery abilities and body awareness, anxiety, and depression in patients with migraine.
H1: There is a relationship between motor imagery abilities and body awareness, anxiety, and depression in patients with migraine.
Detailed description
Motor imagery is defined as the mental simulation of a movement without its physical execution. During motor imagery, brain regions activated during actual motor performance are similarly engaged. Motor imagery can be divided into visual (external or internal perspective) and kinesthetic (internal sensation of movement) components, and it activates several cerebral regions, including the premotor cortex, supplementary motor area, primary motor cortex, parietal lobe, cerebellum, and basal ganglia.
Migraine is a complex neurological disorder that can lead to impairments in emotional, cognitive, and sensory functions. Migraine symptoms are not limited to pain and are associated with alterations in thalamic activity, as well as connections involving trigeminal-cortical or intracortical networks and interactions between the thalamus and the limbic system. Despite being relatively young and not exhibiting significant motor control deficits, recent evidence suggests that patients with migraine may present with balance impairments. These individuals may experience impaired postural stability during quiet standing under altered surface and visual input conditions, and their limits of stability tend to decrease during dynamic tasks such as walking, obstacle negotiation, and sit-to-stand transitions.
Motor imagery-based exercises have been shown to be effective in reducing pain, improving motor control, and regulating psychological status in pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia, chronic low back pain, and neck pain. These effects highlight the potential role of motor imagery in pain perception, body awareness, and cognitive-emotional regulation. Furthermore, several studies have demonstrated that motor imagery training has positive effects on balance and mobility in older adults, walking performance, fatigue, and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis, and trunk muscle control and proprioception in individuals with stroke.
There is a lack of comprehensive research on motor imagery in patients with migraine in the current literature. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare the motor imagery abilities of patients with migraine to those of healthy individuals and to investigate the relationships between motor imagery and proprioception (cervical and trunk), balance, body awareness, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, the study aims to examine the relationship between proprioception and balance in patients with migraine.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Target follow-up
- 2 Days
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| migraine patients | – | – |
| Healthy Participants | – | – |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- migraine patients
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Diagnosed with migraine by a neurologist according to ICHD-3 criteria
- Aged 18-65 years
- Score greater than 21 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
- Aged 18-65 years
- Score greater than 21 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Presence of additional neurological or orthopedic disorders
- Current use of psychiatric medications
- Severe musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, or other medical conditions that would prevent participation in the study
- Significant visual or hearing impairments
- Severe cognitive impairment, as determined by a physician, that would interfere with the administration of tests.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Headache Assessment: Numerical Pain Scale
Time frame: From August 2026 to January 2027
The numeric pain scale is used to assess the severity of a headache.The pain a person feels is evaluated on a scale from "0: no pain at all" to "10: I feel very severe pain."
Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3
Time frame: From August 2026 to January 2027
The Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 is the most up-to-date version of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire and the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised, Second Edition.The questionnaire consists of 12 items and separately evaluates external, internal, and kinesthetic imagery abilities. After each imagery task, individuals rate their experience on a scale from 1 to 7 (1 - very difficult to feel/see, 7 - very easy to feel/see).
Motor Imagery Ability Test
Time frame: From August 2026 to January 2027
The ability to imagine movement is used to test the controllability component of imagery (CC). It is defined as the ability to manipulate, transform, or maintain an imagined body movement over time
Mental Chronometry
Time frame: From August 2026 to January 2027
The administration of questionnaires is quite easy and quick. However, the subjectivity arising from individuals rating themselves in these questionnaires should not be overlooked. Mental chronometry can be defined as the time required by the neural system to process information. It is based on a different foundation than the questionnaires mentioned above. Mental chronometry is a parameter that measures the duration of motor imagery and is based on the assumption that the time required to perform a movement is the same as the time needed to imagine it. Compared to questionnaires, mental chronometry is a more objective measure; however, it does not evaluate the clarity or vividness of imagery. Mental chronometry measurements are planned to be carried out using the method described by Oostra et al.
Mental Rotation Ability
Time frame: From August 2026 to January 2027
Mental Rotation is one of the visuospatial abilities and can be simply defined as the mental rotation of objects in three dimensions. To evaluate mental rotation ability, three-dimensional objects such as cubes or body parts like the hands and feet can be used. Mental rotation ability is frequently assessed using hand images. The basic principle of hand mental rotation tests is to determine whether a hand image, presented from different angles and orientations, belongs to the right or left hand. In our study, since we focus on the neck region and balance ability, the Recognise Neck and Foot applications, which include images of the neck and feet, will be used.
Assessment of motor imagery of different tasks using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Time frame: From August 2026 to January 2027
The task is to perform visual motor imagery and kinesthetic motor imagery in accordance with the instructions, taking into account the tasks included in the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3.The stimuli will be presented via projection onto a mirror mounted on the head coil of the Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner. All participants will first be instructed to perform visual motor imagery (first-person internal egocentric imagery) and then kinesthetic motor imagery. The procedure is planned to be carried out using the method applied by Kwon et al.
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment
Time frame: From August 2026 to January 2027
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment is a neuropsychological test used to evaluate cognitive domains such as memory, attention, executive functions, visuospatial abilities, language, abstraction, and orientation. The scale includes items assessing attention and concentration, executive functions, memory, language, visuospatial skills, abstract thinking, calculation, and orientation. The total score ranges from 0 to 30. In the standardization study conducted in our country, the cutoff score for distinguishing healthy individuals from those with mild cognitive impairment was determined as 21.
The Migraine Disability Assessment
Time frame: From August 2026 to January 2027
The Migraine Disability Assessment scale measures headache-related disability and includes five functional questions related to work, school, and household activities. The MIDAS score is calculated by counting the number of days in which the patient's performance is reduced or absent.
4 secondary outcomes
Cervical Proprioception Assessment
Time frame: from August 2026 to January 2027
Trunk Proprioception Assessment
Time frame: from August 2026 to January 2027
Neck Awareness Assement
Time frame: from August 2026 to January 2027
Balance Assessment
Time frame: from August 2026 to January 2027
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Migraine and Healthy Participants, run by Hacettepe University.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Makbule Özel, PhD student (+90 534 428 1165, makbuleozel95@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Headache Assessment: Numerical Pain Scale (time frame: From August 2026 to January 2027). The study lists 8 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Sep 2026.