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McManus E, Muhlert N, Duncan NW. InSpectro-Gadget: A Tool for Estimating Neurotransmitter and Neuromodulator Receptor Distributions for MRS Voxels. Neuroinformatics 2024; 22:135-145. [PMID: 38386228 DOI: 10.1007/s12021-024-09654-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is widely used to estimate concentrations of glutamate and γ -aminobutyric acid (GABA) in specific regions of the living human brain. As cytoarchitectural properties differ across the brain, interpreting these measurements can be assisted by having knowledge of such properties for the MRS region(s) studied. In particular, some knowledge of likely local neurotransmitter receptor patterns can potentially give insights into the mechanistic environment GABA- and glutamatergic neurons are functioning in. This may be of particular utility when comparing two or more regions, given that the receptor populations may differ substantially across them. At the same time, when studying MRS data from multiple participants or timepoints, the homogeneity of the sample becomes relevant, as measurements taken from areas with different cytoarchitecture may be difficult to compare. To provide insights into the likely cytoarchitectural environment of user-defined regions-of-interest, we produced an easy to use tool - InSpectro-Gadget - that interfaces with receptor mRNA expression information from the Allen Human Brain Atlas. This Python tool allows users to input masks and automatically obtain a graphical overview of the receptor population likely to be found within. This includes comparison between multiple masks or participants where relevant. The receptors and receptor subunit genes featured include GABA- and glutamatergic classes, along with a wide range of neuromodulators. The functionality of the tool is explained here and its use is demonstrated through a set of example analyses. The tool is available at https://github.com/lizmcmanus/Inspectro-Gadget .
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nils Muhlert
- School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Niall W Duncan
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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2
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Neurometabolic underpinning of the intergenerational transmission of prosociality. Neuroimage 2020; 218:116965. [PMID: 32461150 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Parent-child personality transmission can occur via biological gene-driven processes as well as through environmental factors such as shared environment and parenting style. We recently revealed a negative association between prosociality, a highly valued personality attribute in human society, and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in children at the age of 10 years. We thus hypothesized that prosociality would be intergenerationally transmitted, and that transmission would be underwritten by neurometabolic heritability. Here, we collected prosociality data from children aged 10 years and their parents in a large-scale population-based birth cohort study. We also measured ACC GABA+ and glutamate plus glutamine (Glx) levels in a follow-up assessment with a subsample of the participants (aged 11 years) using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We analyzed the associations among children's and parents' prosociality and GABA+/Glx ratios. We also examined the effect of socioeconomic status (SES) and verbalized parental affection (VPA) on these associations. We found a significant positive parent-child association for prosociality (N = 3026; children's mean age 10.2 years) and GABA+/Glx ratio (N = 99; children's mean age 11.4 years). There was a significant negative association between GABA+/Glx ratio and prosociality in both children (N = 208) and parents (N = 128). Our model accounting for the effects of neurometabolic heritability on prosociality transmission fitted well. Moreover, in this model, a significant positive effect of VPA but not SES on children's prosociality was observed independently of the effect of neurometabolic transmission, while SES but not VPA was significantly associated with parental prosociality. Our results provide novel insights into the neurometabolic substrates of parent-child transmission of social behavior.
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GABA Levels in Left and Right Sensorimotor Cortex Correlate across Individuals. Biomedicines 2018; 6:biomedicines6030080. [PMID: 30042306 PMCID: PMC6164430 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines6030080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Differences in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels measured with Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy have been shown to correlate with behavioral performance over a number of tasks and cortical regions. These correlations appear to be regionally and functionally specific. In this study, we test the hypothesis that GABA levels will be correlated within individuals for functionally related regions-the left and right sensorimotor cortex. In addition, we investigate whether this is driven by bulk tissue composition. GABA measurements using edited MRS data were acquired from the left and right sensorimotor cortex in 24 participants. T1-weighted MR images were also acquired and segmented to determine the tissue composition of the voxel. GABA level is shown to correlate significantly between the left and right regions (r = 0.64, p < 0.03). Tissue composition is highly correlated between sides, but does not explain significant variance in the bilateral correlation. In conclusion, individual differences in GABA level, which have previously been described as functionally and regionally specific, are correlated between homologous sensorimotor regions. This correlation is not driven by bulk differences in voxel tissue composition.
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Larsen RJ, Newman M, Nikolaidis A. Reduction of variance in measurements of average metabolite concentration in anatomically-defined brain regions. JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE (SAN DIEGO, CALIF. : 1997) 2016; 272:73-81. [PMID: 27662403 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmr.2016.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Revised: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/10/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Multiple methods have been proposed for using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Imaging (MRSI) to measure representative metabolite concentrations of anatomically-defined brain regions. Generally these methods require spectral analysis, quantitation of the signal, and reconciliation with anatomical brain regions. However, to simplify processing pipelines, it is practical to only include those corrections that significantly improve data quality. Of particular importance for cross-sectional studies is knowledge about how much each correction lowers the inter-subject variance of the measurement, thereby increasing statistical power. Here we use a data set of 72 subjects to calculate the reduction in inter-subject variance produced by several corrections that are commonly used to process MRSI data. Our results demonstrate that significant reductions of variance can be achieved by performing water scaling, accounting for tissue type, and integrating MRSI data over anatomical regions rather than simply assigning MRSI voxels with anatomical region labels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J Larsen
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States.
| | - Michael Newman
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States
| | - Aki Nikolaidis
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States
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5
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Lee S, Yu JS, Lee S. A Pilot Study of Psychological Traits in the Sasang Constitution According to the Braverman Nature Assessment. J Pharmacopuncture 2016; 18:32-7. [PMID: 27547483 PMCID: PMC4984615 DOI: 10.3831/kpi.2015.18.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychological characteristics of the Sasang constitutions by using Braverman nature assessment (BNA). Methods: One hundred seventy-four students participated in this study, and among them, the 142 individuals who had clearly identified Sasang constitutional types were used for the analysis. Sasang constitutions and the Braverman temperaments of the subjects were determined by using a questionnaire for the Sasang constitution classification (QSCC) II and BNA, respectively. Body mass index (BMI) was used to compare the inclinations of the Sasang constitutions and Braverman temperament types. Results: Significant differences in Braverman temperament type existed among the Sasang constitutions (P = 0.042), and the relations between Soyangin and the dopamine type and between Taeeumin and the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type were meaningful. Significant differences were also shown in the comparison with the Yin and the Yang constitutions (P = 0.017), and the post-hoc analysis showed a strong and significant relation between the Yang constitution and the dopamine type and between the Yin constitution and the GABA type. The one–way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the independent t-test were conducted to examine the BMI and the degree of obesity among the Sasang constitutions and the Braverman temperament types. Concerning the BMI, Taeeumin showed a bigger BMI than the other constitutions (P < 0.001), but no significant differences in the BMI were observed between the Braverman temperament types. Conclusion: Soyangin has a close relationship to the dopamine type and Taeeumin has a close relationship to the GABA type. The correlation between two types were more clear when the Yin and the Yang types were compared to Braverman temperaments. These results may serve as a basis for identifying the psychological traits of Sasang constitutional types, especially in regard to the characteristics related to the four Braverman temperament types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soojin Lee
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University, Wonju, Korea
| | - Jun-Sang Yu
- Department of Sasang Constitutional Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University, Wonju, Korea
| | - Siwoo Lee
- Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Korea
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6
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Goddard AW. Cortical and subcortical gamma amino acid butyric acid deficits in anxiety and stress disorders: Clinical implications. World J Psychiatry 2016; 6:43-53. [PMID: 27014597 PMCID: PMC4804267 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v6.i1.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Revised: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Anxiety and stress disorders are a major public health issue. However, their pathophysiology is still unclear. The gamma amino acid butyric acid (GABA) neurochemical system has been strongly implicated in their pathogenesis and treatment by numerous preclinical and clinical studies, the most recent of which have been highlighted and critical review in this paper. Changes in cortical GABA appear related to normal personality styles and responses to stress. While there is accumulating animal and human neuroimaging evidence of cortical and subcortical GABA deficits across a number of anxiety conditions, a clear pattern of findings in specific brain regions for a given disorder is yet to emerge. Neuropsychiatric conditions with anxiety as a clinical feature may have GABA deficits as an underlying feature. Different classes of anxiolytic therapies support GABA function, and this may be an area in which newer GABA neuroimaging techniques could soon offer more personalized therapy. Novel GABAergic pharmacotherapies in development offer potential improvements over current therapies in reducing sedative and physiologic dependency effects, while offering rapid anxiolysis.
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Liguz-Lecznar M, Lehner M, Kaliszewska A, Zakrzewska R, Sobolewska A, Kossut M. Altered glutamate/GABA equilibrium in aged mice cortex influences cortical plasticity. Brain Struct Funct 2016; 220:1681-93. [PMID: 24659256 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-014-0752-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2013] [Accepted: 03/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Age-related molecular changes in the synapse can cause plasticity decline. We found an impairment of experience-dependent cortical plasticity is induced by short lasting sensory conditioning in aged mice. However, extending the training procedure from 3 to 7 days triggered plasticity in the aged cortex of the same range as in young mice. Additionally, GABAergic markers (GABA, GAD67, VGAT) in young and aged groups that showed the plastic changes were upregulated. This effect was absent in the aged group with impaired plasticity, while the expression of Vglut1 increased in all trained groups. This may reflect the inefficiency of inhibitory mechanisms in the aging brain used to control increased excitation after training and to shape proper signal to noise ratio, which is essential for appropriate stimuli processing. HPLC analysis showed that the glutamate/GABA ratio was significantly reduced in aged animals due to a significant decrease in glutamate level. We also observed a decreased expression of several presynaptic markers involved in excitatory (vesicular glutamate transporter-vglut2) and inhibitory (glutamic acid decarboxylase-GAD67, vesicular GABA transporter VGAT) transmission in the aged barrel cortex. These changes may weaken the plasticity potential of neurons and impede the experience-dependent reorganization of cortical connections. We suggest that the imbalance toward inhibition resulting from a decrease of glutamate content in the aging cerebral cortex, together with GABAergic system ineffectiveness in upregulating GABA level after sensory training, contributes to the impairment of learning-dependent cortical plasticity.
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Ende G. Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: Relevance of Glutamate and GABA to Neuropsychology. Neuropsychol Rev 2015; 25:315-25. [PMID: 26264407 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-015-9295-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) has been widely used to study the healthy and diseased brain in vivo. The availability of whole body MR scanners with a field strength of 3 Tesla and above permit the quantification of many metabolites including the neurotransmitters glutamate (Glu) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The potential link between neurometabolites identified by MRS and cognition and behavior has been explored in numerous studies both in healthy subjects and in patient populations. Preliminary findings suggest direct or opposite associations between GABA or Glu with impulsivity, anxiety, and dexterity. This chapter is intended to provide an overview of basic principles of MRS and the literature reporting correlations between GABA or Glu and results of neuropsychological assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Ende
- Department of Neuroimaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim / Heidelberg University, J5, D-68159, Mannheim, Germany,
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9
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Liu B, Wang G, Gao D, Gao F, Zhao B, Qiao M, Yang H, Yu Y, Ren F, Yang P, Chen W, Rae CD. Alterations of GABA and glutamate-glutamine levels in premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a 3T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. Psychiatry Res 2015; 231:64-70. [PMID: 25465316 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2014.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Revised: 10/13/2014] [Accepted: 10/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence has suggested that the GABAergic neurotransmitter system is involved in the pathogenesis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). We used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) to investigate whether PMDD is associated with alterations in brain GABA levels. Levels of glutamate-glutamine (Glx) were also explored. Participants comprised 22 women with PMDD and 22 age-matched healthy controls who underwent 3T (1)H MRS during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. GABA+ and Glx levels were quantified in the anterior cingulate cortex/medial prefrontal cortex (ACC/mPFC) and the left basal ganglia (ltBG). Water-scaled GABA+ concentrations and GABA+/tCr ratios were significantly lower in both the ACC/mPFC and ltBG regions of PMDD women than in healthy controls. Glx/tCr ratios were significantly higher in the ACC/mPFC region of PMDD women than healthy controls. Our preliminary findings provide the first report of abnormal levels of GABA+ and Glx in mood-related brain regions of women with PMDD, indicating that dysregulation of the amino acid neurotransmitter system may be an important neurobiological mechanism in the pathogenesis of PMDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Liu
- Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, No. 324, Jingwu Road, 250021 Jinan, PR China
| | - Guangbin Wang
- Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, No. 324, Jingwu Road, 250021 Jinan, PR China
| | - Dongmei Gao
- Basic Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 44, Wenhua Xi Road, 250012 Jinan, PR China
| | - Fei Gao
- Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, No. 324, Jingwu Road, 250021 Jinan, PR China
| | - Bin Zhao
- Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, No. 324, Jingwu Road, 250021 Jinan, PR China.
| | - Mingqi Qiao
- Basic Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 44, Wenhua Xi Road, 250012 Jinan, PR China
| | - Huan Yang
- Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, No. 324, Jingwu Road, 250021 Jinan, PR China
| | - Yanhong Yu
- Basic Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 44, Wenhua Xi Road, 250012 Jinan, PR China
| | - Fuxin Ren
- Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, No. 324, Jingwu Road, 250021 Jinan, PR China
| | - Ping Yang
- Philips Healthcare, Shanghai, PR China
| | | | - Caroline D Rae
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, New South Wales 2031, Australia
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10
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Silveri MM. GABAergic contributions to alcohol responsivity during adolescence: insights from preclinical and clinical studies. Pharmacol Ther 2014; 143:197-216. [PMID: 24631274 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2014.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2014] [Accepted: 02/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
There is a considerable body of literature demonstrating that adolescence is a unique age period, which includes rapid and dramatic maturation of behavioral, cognitive, hormonal and neurobiological systems. Most notably, adolescence is also a period of unique responsiveness to alcohol effects, with both hyposensitivity and hypersensitivity observed to the various effects of alcohol. Multiple neurotransmitter systems are undergoing fine-tuning during this critical period of brain development, including those that contribute to the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse. The role of developmental maturation of the γ-amino-butyric acid (GABA) system, however, has received less attention in contributing to age-specific alcohol sensitivities. This review integrates GABA findings from human magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies as they may translate to understanding adolescent-specific responsiveness to alcohol effects. Better understanding of the vulnerability of the GABA system both during adolescent development, and in psychiatric conditions that include alcohol dependence, could point to a putative mechanism, boosting brain GABA, that may have increased effectiveness for treating alcohol use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa M Silveri
- Neurodevelopmental Laboratory on Addictions and Mental Health, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Meyerhoff DJ. Brain proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of alcohol use disorders. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2014; 125:313-37. [PMID: 25307583 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-62619-6.00019-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
This chapter critically reviews brain proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) studies performed since 1994 in individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUD). We describe the neurochemicals that can be measured in vivo at the most common magnetic field strengths, summarize our knowledge about their general brain functions, and briefly explain some basic human (1)H MRS methods. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal research of individuals in treatment and of treatment-naïve individuals with AUD are discussed and interpreted on the basis of reported neuropathology. As AUDs are highly comorbid with chronic cigarette smoking and illicit substance abuse, we also summarize reports on their respective influences on regional proton metabolite levels. After reviewing research on neurobiologic correlates of relapse and genetic influences on brain metabolite levels, we finish with suggestions on future directions for (1)H MRS studies in AUDs. The review demonstrates that brain metabolic alterations associated with AUDs as well as their cognitive correlates are not simply a consequence of chronic alcohol consumption. Future MR research of AUDs in general has to be better prepared - and supported - to study clinically complex relationships between personality characteristics, comorbidities, neurogenetics, lifestyle, and living environment, as all these factors critically affect an individual's neurometabolic profile. (1)H MRS is uniquely positioned to tackle these complexities by contributing to a comprehensive biopsychosocial profile of individuals with AUD: it can provide non-invasive biochemical information on select regions of the brain at comparatively low overall cost for the ultimate purpose of informing more efficient treatments of AUDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieter J Meyerhoff
- Center for Imaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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12
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Gao F, Edden RA, Li M, Puts NA, Wang G, Liu C, Zhao B, Wang H, Bai X, Zhao C, Wang X, Barker PB. Edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy detects an age-related decline in brain GABA levels. Neuroimage 2013; 78:75-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2012] [Revised: 04/01/2013] [Accepted: 04/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Ernst J, Böker H, Hättenschwiler J, Schüpbach D, Northoff G, Seifritz E, Grimm S. The association of interoceptive awareness and alexithymia with neurotransmitter concentrations in insula and anterior cingulate. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2013; 9:857-63. [PMID: 23596189 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nst058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alexithymia and increased interoceptive awareness have been associated with affective disorders as well as with altered insula and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) function. Brain imaging studies have demonstrated an association between neurotransmitter function and affective disorders as well as personality traits. Here, we first examined the relationship between alexithymic facets as assessed with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and interoceptive awareness (assessed with the Body Perception Questionnaire) in 18 healthy subjects. Second, we investigated their association with glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentrations in the left insula and the ACC using 3-Tesla proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Behaviorally, we found a close association between alexithymia and interoceptive awareness. Furthermore, glutamate levels in the left insula were positively associated with both alexithymia and awareness of autonomic nervous system reactivity, while GABA concentrations in ACC were selectively associated with alexithymia. Although preliminary, our results suggest that increased glutamate-mediated excitatory transmission-related to enhanced insula activity-reflects increased interoceptive awareness in alexithymia. Suppression of the unspecific emotional arousal evoked by increased awareness of bodily responses in alexithymics might thus be reflected in decreased neuronal activity mediated by increased GABA concentration in ACC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jutta Ernst
- Clinic for Affective Disorders and General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, 8029 Zurich, Switzerland, Center for Anxiety and Depression, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland, University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa K1Z 7K4, Canada, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité, 14050 Berlin, and Languages of Emotion Cluster of Excellence, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Heinz Böker
- Clinic for Affective Disorders and General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, 8029 Zurich, Switzerland, Center for Anxiety and Depression, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland, University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa K1Z 7K4, Canada, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité, 14050 Berlin, and Languages of Emotion Cluster of Excellence, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Joe Hättenschwiler
- Clinic for Affective Disorders and General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, 8029 Zurich, Switzerland, Center for Anxiety and Depression, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland, University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa K1Z 7K4, Canada, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité, 14050 Berlin, and Languages of Emotion Cluster of Excellence, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel Schüpbach
- Clinic for Affective Disorders and General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, 8029 Zurich, Switzerland, Center for Anxiety and Depression, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland, University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa K1Z 7K4, Canada, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité, 14050 Berlin, and Languages of Emotion Cluster of Excellence, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Georg Northoff
- Clinic for Affective Disorders and General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, 8029 Zurich, Switzerland, Center for Anxiety and Depression, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland, University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa K1Z 7K4, Canada, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité, 14050 Berlin, and Languages of Emotion Cluster of Excellence, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Erich Seifritz
- Clinic for Affective Disorders and General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, 8029 Zurich, Switzerland, Center for Anxiety and Depression, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland, University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa K1Z 7K4, Canada, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité, 14050 Berlin, and Languages of Emotion Cluster of Excellence, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Simone Grimm
- Clinic for Affective Disorders and General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, 8029 Zurich, Switzerland, Center for Anxiety and Depression, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland, University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa K1Z 7K4, Canada, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité, 14050 Berlin, and Languages of Emotion Cluster of Excellence, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, GermanyClinic for Affective Disorders and General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, 8029 Zurich, Switzerland, Center for Anxiety and Depression, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland, University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa K1Z 7K4, Canada, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité, 14050 Berlin, and Languages of Emotion Cluster of Excellence, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, GermanyClinic for Affective Disorders and General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, 8029 Zurich, Switzerland, Center for Anxiety and Depression, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland, University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa K1Z 7K4, Canada, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité, 14050 Berlin, and Languages of Emotion Cluster of Excellence, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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14
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Levy LM, Degnan AJ. GABA-based evaluation of neurologic conditions: MR spectroscopy. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2013; 34:259-65. [PMID: 22268095 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a2902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARY GABA serves as a major neurotransmitter of the brain and functions mainly to inhibit neural excitatory activity. Disruption of the GABAergic processes appears to occur in various neurologic and psychiatric conditions, including epilepsy, mood disorders, motor disorders such as focal dystonia and stiff-person syndrome, sleep disorders, neuroplasticity, and drug and alcohol dependence. These concentration differences may be ascertained by using MR spectroscopy to provide information on the concentration of different metabolites. This review briefly discusses advances in MR spectroscopy methods and explores the application of this technique to detect changes in GABA due to disease processes and medication-induced effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Levy
- Department of Radiology, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
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15
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Tang W, Lu J, Ungvari GS, Wong K, Kwan P. Anxiety symptoms in patients with frontal lobe epilepsy versus generalized epilepsy. Seizure 2012; 21:457-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2012.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2012] [Revised: 04/26/2012] [Accepted: 04/27/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
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Puts NA, Edden RA. In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy of GABA: a methodological review. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY 2012; 60:29-41. [PMID: 22293397 PMCID: PMC3383792 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnmrs.2011.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 273] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2011] [Accepted: 05/30/2011] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolaas A.J. Puts
- Schools of Bioscience and Psychology, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, UK
| | - Richard A.E. Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- FM Kirby Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Corresponding author. Address: Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, 600 N Wolfe St., Park 367C, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. Tel.: +1 410 614 3418. (R.A.E. Edden)
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Geramita M, van der Veen JW, Barnett AS, Savostyanova AA, Shen J, Weinberger DR, Marenco S. Reproducibility of prefrontal γ-aminobutyric acid measurements with J-edited spectroscopy. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2011; 24:1089-98. [PMID: 21290458 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.1662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2010] [Revised: 11/26/2010] [Accepted: 12/03/2010] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter of the human brain, and GABA-ergic dysfunction has been implicated in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. Recent MRS techniques have allowed the quantification of GABA concentrations in vivo, and could therefore provide biologically relevant information. Few reports have formally characterized the reproducibility of these techniques, and differences in field strength, acquisition and processing parameters may result in large differences in measured GABA values. Here, we used a J-edited, single-voxel spectroscopy method of measurement of GABA + macromolecules (GABA + ) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and right frontal white matter (rFWM) at 3 T. We measured the coefficient of variation within subjects (CVw) and intra-class correlation coefficients on two repeated scans obtained from 10 healthy volunteers with processing procedures developed in-house for the quantification of GABA + and other major metabolites. In addition, by segmenting the spectroscopic voxel into cerebrospinal fluid, gray matter and white matter, and employing a linear regression technique to extrapolate metabolite values to pure gray and white matter, we determined metabolite differences between gray and white matter in ACC and rFWM. CVw values for GABA + /creatine, GABA + /H(2) O, GABA + , creatine, partially co-edited glutamate + glutamine (Glx)/creatine, partially co-edited Glx and N-acetylaspartic acid (NAA)/creatine were all below 12% in both ACC and rFWM. After extrapolation to pure gray and pure white matter, CVw values for all metabolites were below 16%. We found metabolite ratios between gray and white matter for GABA + /creatine, GABA + , creatine, partially co-edited Glx and NAA/creatine to be 0.88 ± 0.21 (standard deviation), 1.52 ± 0.32, 1.77 ± 0.4, 2.69 ± 0.74 and 0.70 ± 0.05, respectively. This study validates a reproducible method for the quantification of brain metabolites, and provides information on gray/white matter differences that may be important in the interpretation of results in clinical populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Geramita
- Unit for Multimodal Imaging Genetics, Clinical Brain Disorders Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Grimm S, Schubert F, Jaedke M, Gallinat J, Bajbouj M. Prefrontal cortex glutamate and extraversion. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2011; 7:811-8. [PMID: 22016442 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsr056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Extraversion is considered one of the core traits of personality. Low extraversion has been associated with increased vulnerability to affective and anxiety disorders. Brain imaging studies have linked extraversion, approach behaviour and the production of positive emotional states to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and glutamatergic neurotransmission. However, the relationship between extraversion and glutamate in the DLPFC has not been investigated so far. In order to address this issue, absolute glutamate concentrations in the DLPFC and the visual cortex as a control region were measured by 3-Tesla proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in 29 subjects with high and low extraversion. We found increased glutamate levels in the DLPFC of introverts as compared with extraverts. The increased glutamate concentration was specific for the DLPFC and negatively associated with state anxiety. Although preliminary, results indicate altered top-down control of DLPFC due to reduced glutamate concentration as a function of extraversion. Glutamate measurement with 1H-MRS may facilitate the understanding of biological underpinnings of personality traits and psychiatric diseases associated with dysfunctions in approach behaviour and the production of positive emotional states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Grimm
- Cluster of Excellence 'Languages of Emotion', Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
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