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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. One man experienced a ________ sensation in his left foot during the course of a migraine.

2. Some hallucinations in migraine patients might give a person a sense of __________ for no apparent reason.

3. A precordial migraine is one in which _________ pain is the only symptom of the migraine attack, according to Sacks.

4. Sacks points out that there is a tendency to _________ migraine sufferers in literature and in descriptions.

5. Changes in the sensory __________ are another possible part of the aural symptoms, according to Sacks.

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the German physician's experience with migraines, according to the beginning of the book?

2. What are some of the visual sensory hallucinations that migraine patients have seen in their experiences before migraines?

3. Why do many migraine sufferers tend to rub one side of their head when they are in the midst of a migraine?

4. What sorts of migraine situations does Sacks say are rare and fairly uncommon in reference to visual hallucinations?

5. What is likely to aggravate the pain of a migraine, according to the author of this book?

6. How does Sacks propose the genetic link of migraines be tested in order to assure that environmental conditions are not the cause?

7. What did the fifty-three year old female patient say characterized the start of her migraines?

8. What is the problem that Sacks has with saying that migraines can run in families?

9. What is the meaning of aura, as Sacks uses the term in this section?

10. What do some researchers feel is not a cause of migraines as adults, according to Sacks' research?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sometimes, people come up with less than conventional treatments for their pain, as described in one of the case histories of a man who used snuff to precipitate sneezing, which would make him feel better.

Part 1: Do you think that unconventional treatments are still helpful?

Part 2: Why do you think some people seek out less than conventional treatments?

Part 3: How do you feel about people who don't use medically approved treatments?

Essay Topic 2

Reymond is a doctor who discusses his own pain in order to help other migraine sufferers.

Part 1: Do you think that a firsthand experience is the best way to learn about a disorder?

Part 2: How do you think Reymond's condition might affect his ability to describe migraines?

Part 3: Why do you think that migraines are important to Sacks if he doesn't suffer from them?

Essay Topic 3

Some people seem to be prone to migraines when they are in highly emotional situations.

Part 1: Why do you think intense emotions can cause pain?

Part 2: How do you feel when you are in intensely emotional situations? Does your health status change?

Part 3: Do you think people who respond to emotional situations with physical pain are weak?

(see the answer keys)

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