13 'Unusual' Migraine Aura Symptoms

When most people think of migraine aura, they picture the “classic” zigzag lines or flashes of light. But the truth is, aura can take many different forms—and some of them are surprisingly unusual. From phantom smells and strange tastes to distortions of time or body image, migraine aura can affect almost every sense and leave people feeling disoriented or even frightened.

If you’ve ever experienced symptoms that didn’t match the typical descriptions, you’re not alone. Many people living with migraine report aura experiences that don’t fit neatly into standard diagnostic checklists. Sometimes these symptoms are overlooked or dismissed, which can add stress to an already difficult condition. Understanding that these unusual auras are real—and documented—can help reduce fear and provide language to explain them to doctors, loved ones, or coworkers.

This guide explores 13 unusual migraine aura symptoms in depth, with research-backed explanations. The goal is to validate what you may be experiencing, give you information to better advocate for yourself, and remind you that you’re not imagining things. Migraine is complex, and so are the ways it can show up in your life.

1. Olfactory hallucinations (phantosmia)

• What it is: An olfactory hallucination means smelling something that isn’t really present, often something unpleasant (e.g., smoke, burning, chemicals). In migraine, this phenomenon is known as phantosmia. It is rare.

• When it happens / duration: These phantom smells usually occur just before or at the start of the headache phase. The duration typically ranges from 5 to 60 minutes.

• Why it’s unusual & clinical notes: Because most migraine auras are visual or sensory (tingling, numbness, etc.), olfactory hallucinations are not included in standard diagnostic criteria (ICHD). They may cause confusion with other conditions (seizures, sinus issues, psychiatric). Recognizing them can help in managing migraines and avoiding misdiagnosis.

2. Auditory hallucinations or distortions

• What happens: This involves hearing things that aren’t there—voices, sounds, or distortions of familiar sounds. Sometimes, there is “aural fullness,” ringing, or voices speaking.

• Timing & duration: These auditory phenomena are uncommon and typically occur during the headache phase, rather than strictly in the aura phase. The majority last less than an hour.

• Importance/implications: Because they are rare, auditory hallucinations may not be considered part of the aura under current definitions; however, newer research shows that multisensory experiences (including auditory) are more common than previously thought. Also, in many cases, auditory hallucinations occur in people with comorbid psychiatric conditions (e.g., depression), complicating interpretation.

3. Gustatory hallucinations (Taste disturbances)

• Description: A person may taste flavors that aren’t present (metallic taste, bitter, odd flavors). Sometimes tastes accompany smells or are isolated.

• When & how long: These unusual taste perceptions may happen around the same time as aura or headache, often brief (minutes), though reports vary.

• Clinical relevance: Because taste is not typically part of diagnostic aura criteria, gustatory hallucinations are often overlooked. They may sometimes be dismissed as an aftertaste from food or medication. Recognizing them helps in mapping which brain regions are affected during the aura phase.

4. Complex visual hallucinations (seeing people, animals, vivid scenes)

• What it is: Beyond simple visual aura signs (zigzag lines, flashes), complex visual hallucinations include seeing people, animals, etc. These are rare but have been documented, especially in hemiplegic migraine or migraine with brainstem involvement.

• When they occur: These often appear later in the migraine attack (sometimes during the headache phase rather than strictly aura). They may last for hours or even longer, according to some reports.

• Risks and detection: It is important to distinguish between psychiatric symptoms and seizures. Neurologists sometimes use imaging or a detailed history to ascertain that these are migraine-related. Also, these more complex images may be distressing.

5. Tactile hallucinations / somatic distortions

• What it is: Sensations on skin—feeling bugs crawling, heat, pressure, or something touching that isn’t there. They could also be distortions of the body schema (feeling the body is bigger/smaller, or that body parts are distorted).

• Timing & duration: These usually accompany other aura symptoms (visual, sensory) or occur in overlapping phases. Duration may be short (minutes), but may also overlap with the headache phase.

• Clinical significance: Because tactile hallucinations aren’t in standard aura definitions, these experiences are under-reported. They may create anxiety in patients (thinking something physical is wrong). Understanding them helps clarify that the aura can be multisensory.

6. Body image distortion / Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS)

• What it is: Altered perception of one’s own body—things like feeling you’re very large (macrosomatognosia) or very small (microsomatognosia), distortions of space, time, distance. Often includes visual distortion, too.

• Occurrence and duration: Episodes are typically episodic, lasting from a few minutes to approximately ≈1 hour. They may happen during the aura or, less commonly, during the headache phase.

• Relevance: Because AIWS involves multiple sensory domains and is not limited to vision or classic aura, it is often not recognized as aura, though for some, it is. For diagnosis, need to rule out other causes (neurologic, psychiatric).

7. Time distortion

• What it is: Feeling that time is moving unnaturally slow or fast; the past/future may seem distorted. May feel like hours pass in minutes or vice versa.

• When it happens: Often during or after aura, sometimes overlapping with headache. Duration tends to be short.

• Why unusual: Time distortion isn’t usually included in classical aura definitions. Such experiences can be disorienting and may overlap with other neurological symptoms. Better awareness helps avoid worry or misdiagnosis.

8. Hearing one’s own voice abnormally (auditory distortion of self-voice)

• What it is: The person hears their own voice but altered—e.g., too loud, echoing, distant, distorted. This is different from hearing voices that aren’t there; it’s a distortion of something real.

• When & how long: These distortions may occur in the aura or during headache phases, often concurrent with other aura symptoms. Duration may be minutes.

• Clinical importance: Since auditory distortions of self-voice are subtle, they are less likely to be reported. However, they suggest involvement of the auditory cortex or connections in brain regions that integrate self-perception. It’s a useful clue in a multisensory aura.

9. Ear fullness / distorted hearing

• What it is: A sensation of fullness in the ear (like a plugged ear), distortion of hearing, muffled sounds, or hearing static/ringing.

• When & duration: Often happens during the aura or headache, sometimes as part of brainstem aura features. Duration is short to moderate (minutes to under an hour).

• Significance: It may overlap with vestibular migraine or brainstem migraine. It may be confused with ear pathology (infection, Eustachian tube issues). Distinguishing migraine aura ear symptoms helps avoid unnecessary ENT investigations.

10. Motor weakness or paralysis on one side (hemiplegic migraine)

• What it is: Sudden weakness or paralysis of part or whole side of body (arm, leg, face). Hemiplegic migraine is a rare subtype where this is a major feature.

• Onset & duration: Weakness often begins gradually, and can last longer than typical aura sensory symptoms. Usually resolves fully, though duration can vary.

• Clinical implications: Mimics stroke. Must be evaluated carefully with imaging to exclude serious causes. Genetic variants exist (familial hemiplegic migraine). Treatment and management differ.

11. Brainstem aura symptoms (double vision, vertigo, dysarthria, etc.)

• What it is: Migraine with brainstem aura (formerly “basilar migraine”) includes symptoms such as vertigo or imbalance; hearing disturbances; double vision; slurred speech; impaired coordination; and sometimes decreased consciousness.

• When & duration: These symptoms tend to occur in the aura phase or overlap with headache; often transient (minutes up to an hour).

• Risks/considerations: Because brainstem symptoms can also occur in serious brainstem pathology or stroke, careful clinical assessment and sometimes imaging are required. Also, certain migraine triggers or risk factors (e.g., younger age, etc.) may influence occurrence.

12. “Visual snow”/persistent visual static

• What it is: A continuous overlay of many tiny flickering dots, like static (snow) across the visual field. It may persist beyond the immediate aura.

• When it happens: Sometimes during an aura, sometimes between attacks. In cases of “persistent aura without infarction”, it can last far longer than a typical aura (hours, days, or more).

• Clinical importance: Visual snow is not always transient; in some people, it becomes chronic. It may cause distress and interfere with vision. It’s distinct from the classic fortification spectra or scintillating scotoma, though possibly related. Recognizing it can lead to different management.

13. Dysphasia/aphasia (language disturbance) beyond mild slurring

• What it is: Difficulty finding words, slurred speech, inability to speak or understand language. In more severe aura types, the disturbance can be quite pronounced.

• Onset & duration: Usually a gradual onset over minutes, part of the aura, lasting less than an hour, typically; however, in some cases of migrainous infarction or prolonged aura, it can last longer.

• Why it’s unusual: Many people expect aura to be “just visual or sensory”; language disturbances are less common and more alarming. Because aphasic auras can mimic stroke, they often lead to urgent medical evaluation. Adequate differentiation (with gradual onset and resolution) is essential.

Living with migraine often means living with uncertainty—and when your aura symptoms don’t look like the “typical” ones, it can feel even more isolating. But knowing that these unusual symptoms are part of a documented spectrum of migraine aura can help you feel more grounded. You’re not “crazy,” and you’re not alone. Others have experienced the same phantom smells, distorted sounds, shifting time, or unsettling body sensations.

If any of these symptoms show up in your own migraine attacks, keep track of them and share them with your healthcare provider. Even rare aura experiences deserve recognition and care. They don’t make your migraine any less valid—they’re just another reminder of how uniquely migraine can affect each person.

Most importantly, try to give yourself compassion. Migraine is not your fault, and your body’s experiences—no matter how strange they may feel—are real. The more we understand and talk about these unusual aura symptoms, the more support and relief we can create for people living with migraine.