Cacna1b null mice exhibit a hyperkinetic movement disorder (37) and mutations in the homologous region of CACNA1A (Cav2.1), the subunit that together with Cav2.2 controls depolarization-induced calcium entry and transmitter release, were already reported to cause episodic ataxia and/or familial hemiplegic migraine (38). Here, CACNA1B is linked to familial hemiplegic migraine.