A groundbreaking study led by Dr. Mayron Faria, assistant professor of Exercise Science at Lyon College, is offering new insights into how migraines impact brain activity and the body’s autonomic regulation systems. Published in the respected journal Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, the research compares untreated migraine patients with healthy individuals—highlighting significant differences in brain function, cognitive performance, and cardiovascular responses.
The collaborative project, conducted with the University of Fortaleza in Brazil and VO2 Care, revealed that even without visible symptoms, migraine sufferers experience underlying disruptions in brain activity that may have long-term health implications.
In a follow-up study, Dr. Faria mentored a team of Lyon College undergraduate Exercise Science students, who presented their research findings at the 67th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society in Minneapolis this June. Students analyzed reaction time, cognitive function, and neural performance in migraine sufferers.
“This hands-on research experience gave students the opportunity to present at a national conference and build skills that will support them far beyond graduation,” said Dr. Faria.
Lyon College alumna Juliana Novakovic, who contributed to the study, said the experience helped shape her professional path. “This project showed me how research can make a real-world difference—not just for our careers, but for people who suffer from migraines every day.”
Dr. Faria hopes the findings will help guide future treatments that go beyond managing pain and target the broader physiological effects of migraines.
For more information about the study or Lyon College’s Exercise Science program, contact Dr. Faria at Mayron.Faria@Lyon.edu.
