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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDClinical case reports

Immersive Virtual Reality Exposure Associated With a Migraine With Brainstem Aura-Like Presentation and Prolonged Recovery: A Case Report.

  • Abdulrahman Al-Dawoudi1
  • Daniil Varlamov1
  • Shaghaf Alhallak2
  • Mujahed Dalain1
  1. 1Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences University of Latvia Riga Latvia.
  2. 2Faculty of Medicine Homs University Homs Syrian Arab Republic.
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Abstract

Immersive virtual reality (VR) exposure can produce a range of neurological symptoms, but its possible relationship with prolonged migraine-related symptoms remains poorly characterized. We report a 32-year-old male who developed acute disorientation, vertigo, cognitive clouding, derealization, and sensory disturbances immediately following a 30-min immersive VR session. Symptoms partially improved but recurred with sensory overstimulation the following day. Despite unremarkable neuro-otological examinations, the patient experienced a markedly atypical, two-week period of persistent neurological symptoms featuring hypersomnia, cognitive fatigue, and sensory hypersensitivity. The presentation was considered a migraine with brainstem aura-like presentation, although it did not fulfill ICHD-3 criteria for definite migraine with brainstem aura. Symptoms gradually resolved completely by approximately 2 weeks, with no recurrence reported at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. This case describes a temporal association between immersive VR exposure and a prolonged migraine-like neurological presentation, highlighting the need for clinical awareness of symptoms occurring after immersive digital exposure.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{aldawoudi2026immersive,
  title = {{Immersive Virtual Reality Exposure Associated With a Migraine With Brainstem Aura-Like Presentation and Prolonged Recovery: A Case Report.}},
  author = {Abdulrahman Al-Dawoudi and Daniil Varlamov and Shaghaf Alhallak and Mujahed Dalain},
  journal = {Clinical case reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = nov,
  doi = {10.1002/ccr3.73895},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42997322},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Immersive Virtual Reality Exposure Associated With a Migraine With Brainstem Aura-Like Presentation and Prolonged Recovery: A Case Report.
AU  - Abdulrahman Al-Dawoudi
AU  - Daniil Varlamov
AU  - Shaghaf Alhallak
AU  - Mujahed Dalain
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/11/06
JO  - Clinical case reports
DO  - 10.1002/ccr3.73895
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42997322
AB  - Immersive virtual reality (VR) exposure can produce a range of neurological symptoms, but its possible relationship with prolonged migraine-related symptoms remains poorly characterized. We report a 32-year-old male who developed acute disorientation, vertigo, cognitive clouding, derealization, and sensory disturbances immediately following a 30-min immersive VR session. Symptoms partially improved but recurred with sensory overstimulation the following day. Despite unremarkable neuro-otological examinations, the patient experienced a markedly atypical, two-week period of persistent neurological symptoms featuring hypersomnia, cognitive fatigue, and sensory hypersensitivity. The presentation was considered a migraine with brainstem aura-like presentation, although it did not fulfill ICHD-3 criteria for definite migraine with brainstem aura. Symptoms gradually resolved completely by approximately 2 weeks, with no recurrence reported at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. This case describes a temporal association between immersive VR exposure and a prolonged migraine-like neurological presentation, highlighting the need for clinical awareness of symptoms occurring after immersive digital exposure.
SN  - 2050-0904
ER  -