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What causes migraines? - Marianne Schwarz

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TEDEd Animation

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A throbbing, pounding headache. Bright zigzagging lines across your field of vision. Sensitivity to light, lingering fatigue, disrupted sleep. While an incapacitating headache is one of the most common symptoms, a migraine can include any of these experiences. So what exactly is a migraine? And what causes it? Marianne Schwarz explores what we know— and don't know— about this complex disorder.

With a few exceptions in a minority of patients, there is no single gene known to cause migraines. What other factors might lower the threshold for someone to have migraines besides genetics?

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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Marianne Schwarz
  • Director Bálint Gelley, CUB Animation Ltd.
  • Narrator Alexandra Panzer
  • Storyboard Artist Daniel Gray
  • Animator Rebeka Király, Iván Tamás
  • Compositor Iván Tamás
  • Art Director Anna Tőkés
  • Music József Iszlai
  • Sound Designer József Iszlai
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Elizabeth Cox
  • Fact-Checker Eden Girma

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