Visual stimuli induce serotonin release in occipital cortex: A simultaneous positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging study
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- Visual stimuli induce serotonin release in occipital cortex
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Endogenous serotonin (5-HT) release can be measured noninvasively using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in combination with certain serotonergic radiotracers. This allows us to investigate effects of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions on brain 5-HT levels in living humans. Here, we study the neural responses to a visual stimulus using simultaneous PET/MRI. In a cross-over design, 11 healthy individuals were PET/MRI scanned with the 5-HT(1B)receptor radioligand [C-11]AZ10419369, which is sensitive to changes in endogenous 5-HT. During the last part of the scan, participants either viewed autobiographical images with positive valence (n= 11) or kept their eyes closed (n= 7). The visual stimuli increased cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the occipital cortex, as measured with pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling. Simultaneously, we found decreased 5-HT(1B)receptor binding in the occipital cortex (-3.6 +/- 3.6%), indicating synaptic 5-HT release. Using a linear regression model, we found that the change in 5-HT1B receptor binding was significantly negatively associated with change in CBF in the occipital cortex (p= .004). For the first time, we here demonstrate how cerebral 5-HT levels change in response to nonpharmacological stimuli in humans, as measured with PET. Our findings more directly support a link between 5-HT signaling and visual processing and/or visual attention.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Human Brain Mapping |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 16 |
Pages (from-to) | 4753-4763 |
Number of pages | 11 |
ISSN | 1065-9471 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2020 |
- [11C]AZ10419369, 5-HT, 5-HT1B receptor, simultaneous PET/MR, visual stimulation, 5-HT1B RECEPTOR-BINDING, REFERENCE TISSUE MODEL, NEURONAL RESPONSES, IN-VIVO, BRAIN, PET, INHIBITION, QUANTIFICATION, VALIDATION, MODULATION
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