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Published on: 8/20/2026

Can you provide examples of what a migraine aura might feel like?

Yoshinori Abe

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Migraine aura symptoms are brief, temporary neurological disturbances that occur shortly before a migraine begins. Common examples of migraine aura include:

  • Visual changes: flashing lights, zig-zag patterns, blind spots, or shimmering lines
  • Sensory changes: tingling or numbness in part of the body, such as the face, arm, or hand
  • Other symptoms: difficulty speaking or brief weakness

Unlike symptoms of many other neurological conditions, migraine aura symptoms improve and resolve on their own, typically within an hour.

Because aura symptoms can sometimes mimic more serious conditions, it's important to understand what's actually causing yours. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you identify possible causes based on your specific symptoms and guide you on the best next steps—whether that's self-care, seeing a primary care doctor, or consulting a neurologist. Taking a few minutes now could save you from unnecessary worry or delayed care.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

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Explanation

Migraine auras are experiences that can happen briefly and temporarily, typically before a migraine headache. About one fourth of people with migraines experience migraine auras.

Examples of Aura Experiences

  1. Visual Changes: Some people might temporarily and briefly see flashing lights, zigzag patterns, or spots that look blurry.
  2. Sensory Changes: Some people feel like a part of their body is tingling and/or numb, but this feeling improves on its own within about an hour.

These experiences are temporary and usually start and improve before the migraine headache starts. If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, you can use Ubie's free AI-powered symptom checker to get a personalized assessment and better understand whether you might be experiencing a migraine aura or a different health condition.

(References)

  • Ilik F, & Ilik K. (2014). Alice in Wonderland syndrome as aura of migraine. Neurocase, 23957288.

  • Kaufman DM, & Solomon S. (1992). Migraine visual auras. A medical update for the psychiatrist. General hospital psychiatry, 1601292.

  • Shepherd AJ, & Patterson AJK. (2020). Exploration of anomalous perceptual experiences in .... Consciousness and cognition, 32422548.

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