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Research progress of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging in cervicogenic headache
ZHANG Tianlong  SONG Min  ZHANG Yanjun  SONG Yongjia 

DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.02.022.


[Abstract] Cervicogenic headache (CEH) is a type of head and facial pain caused by disorders of the cervical spine or cervical soft tissues. Its clinical manifestations often overlap with other types of headaches, and the lack of specific biological markers makes diagnosis challenging. At present, understanding of its neural mechanisms remains insufficient, and there is an urgent need to systematically review related imaging research progress to promote accurate diagnosis and treatment. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) can non-invasively reveal spontaneous brain neural activity and changes in functional connectivity and has become an important tool for exploring central remodeling features in CEH. This article provides a systematic review of recent rs-fMRI research in the field of CEH, summarizing its application progress in revealing patterns of brain dysfunction and assisting in differential diagnosis, while pointing out that existing studies still have limitations in sample size, mechanistic depth, and clinical translation. Future research needs to further explore these aspects by integrating multimodal imaging and longitudinal designs. This article aims to integrate existing evidence, deepen the understanding of the central mechanism of CEH, and provide a reference for the research of rs-fMRI in CEH.
[Keywords] cervicogenic headache；chronic pain；central sensitization；magnetic resonance imaging；functional connectivity；brain networks

ZHANG Tianlong1, 2   SONG Min1*   ZHANG Yanjun2   SONG Yongjia1  

1 Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou 730030, China

2 Department of Spine and Bone Ⅱ, Gansu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730050, China

Corresponding author: SONG M, E-mail: sm@gszy.edu.cn

Conflicts of interest   None.

Received  2025-10-15
Accepted  2026-01-31
DOI: 10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.02.022
DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.02.022.

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