Skip to main content

What causes migraines? - Marianne Schwarz

3,693,100 Views

4,135 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

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?

Sign in to answer question

About TED-Ed Animations

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

More from Getting Under Our Skin