What is the sensation or visualization that can occur right before a migraine begins?

• A. Severe headache without aura
• B. Dizziness when dehydrated
• C. Aura
• D. Visual disturbances during sleep

Answer: (C)

Aura is a temporary focal neurological disturbance that can warn you a migraine is starting. It most often shows up as visual phenomena—like shimmering lights, zigzag lines, or a blind spot—that gradually spread across the field of vision and usually last a few minutes to an hour. Other aura symptoms can include tingling or numbness in the face or hands, or mild language difficulties. This is why it’s the best answer: it specifically describes the sensory or visual changes that can precede a migraine. A severe headache without aura describes migraines that don’t have this preheadache sensory signal. Dizziness from dehydration isn’t a migraine-specific premonitory symptom, and visual disturbances during sleep aren’t the typical preheadache aura.