Leao's cortical spreading depression - From experimental artifact to physiological principle

Cortical spreading depression was described in 1943 by Aristides Leao, a Brazilian neurophysiologist. Initially considered to be a mysterious event as it was discovered serendipitously, its nature has become progressively better known. Cortical spreading depression is now accepted as the mechanism underlying migraine aura and has became known as either Leao's spreading depression or cortical spreading depression. Recent studies have suggested a role for Leao's cortical spreading depression in the pathogenesis and symptomatology of neurologic disorders such as transient global amnesia, head injury, and cerebrovascular diseases.