Understanding the Different Types of Migraine Aura

Visual auras are the most common type of aura. The American Migraine Foundation reports that 90% of people who experience an aura experience the visual type of aura.

Symptoms of visual auras include:

• bright flashes of light or stars
• shimmering zigzag lines or geometric patterns
• blind spots
• black or white dots
• blurred vision
• small bright dots
• flickering lights

The next most common type of migraine aura is the sensory aura, which is an aura that you can feel in your body. These auras may occur on their own or alongside visual auras.

You may have the following sensations:

• numbness
• tingling
• pins and needles

People typically feel sensory auras in their fingers, hands, and face. The sensations may start in one part of your body and then travel to your face or, more specifically, your mouth.

A 2023 study involving 343 adults with migraine aura found that people with sensory or language auras were younger in age than those who didn’t experience these types of auras.

Language aura affects your language and challenges your communication abilities. It is not as common as visual or sensory auras.

The symptoms of a language aura may include:

• (dysarthria)
• mumbling
• inability to say the right words
• difficulty understanding words

Only about 10% of migraine auras affect language and speech, estimates a 2019 review.

The following are much less common types of migraine aura:

Hemiplegic migraine (motor aura)

Migraine with motor aura is also known as hemiplegic migraine. Hemiplegic migraine is extremely rare, affecting less than 1% of people with migraine.

Motor aura can cause:

• weakness on one side of the body
• dizziness
• loss of coordination
• tingling or numbness
• weakness on alternating sides of the body (first on one side, then the other)

The symptoms of a motor aura usually last about 20–30 minutes but can sometimes linger for up to several weeks.

Retinal migraine

Retinal migraine is similar to a visual aura, but it only affects one eye. And rather than visual distortions, you are more likely to have vision loss.

You may lose all vision in one eye for periods of about 10–20 minutes or experience partial vision loss for up to an hour. Some people see black spots, called scotomas, that grow in size and result in temporary vision loss.

The prevalence of this rare type of migraine is unknown. Retinal migraine can affect children as young as 7 years, but they usually begin when people are in their 20s.

Migraine with brainstem aura

Migraine with brainstem aura, formerly referred to as a basilar migraine, occurs in up to about 10% of people who experience migraine aura.

The symptoms of this type of aura may include:

• having a sensation of movement (vertigo)
• having weakened speech muscles
• ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• having hiccups

Talk with a doctor if you experience an aura or any neurological symptoms for the first time. You should also contact a doctor if you experience any of the following aura symptoms:

• an aura that starts suddenly rather than gradually
• an aura lasts longer than an hour
• weakness on one side of your body
• a loss of consciousness or alertness

The following are answers to some common questions about migraine aura.

What are the different migraine auras?

The three main types of migraine aura are visual, sensory, and language auras. Rarer auras include motor, retinal, and brainstem auras.

What is the most common migraine aura?

By far, the most common type of migraine aura is the visual aura — over 90% of people with migraine aura experience this type of aura.

What are migraine episodes with visual auras like?

Visual auras disrupt your vision. You may see bright lights, spots, or shimmering zigzag lines. You may also have partial vision loss.

Although a migraine aura may cause visual, sensory, or motor disturbances, it usually lasts 5–60 minutes.

If it lasts longer or you have symptoms such as weakness on one side of your body or loss of consciousness, it’s important to speak with a doctor immediately.