what causes a hemiplegic migraine
The weakness that characterizes hemiplegic migraine is a manifestation of motor aura. The aura of hemiplegic migraine is most probably caused by cortical spreading depression, a self-propagating wave of neuronal and glial depolarization that spreads across the cerebral cortex.
Hemiplegic migraine is a severe sub-type in the migraine group and one of the most serious and debilitating migraines. For hemiplegic migraine sufferers, paralysis and muscle weakness can be so extreme and pronounced that they can cause a temporary, stroke like paralysis (called hemiplegia) on one side of the body.