Migraine is a type of headache that causes a severe, throbbing pain, often on only one side of the head. Some migraine patients have an experience called an aura before they feel pain. The most common auras involve visual disturbances, such as shimmering lights or blind spots. People with migraine often have nausea, vomiting, or extreme sensitivity to light or noises. From 50 to 80 percent of migraine sufferers have family members who also get migraines.