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[The functional relationship between the cerebral cortex and deep brain areas in normal individuals]
Kaku Igaku. the Japanese Journal of Nuclear Medicine
|July 1, 1991
Summary
This study reveals a functional connection between the cerebral cortex and deep brain areas like the thalamus in healthy individuals. This relationship, observed even at rest, is mediated by neuronal pathways.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cerebrovascular Physiology
Background:
- Previous studies indicated altered blood flow and metabolism in brain regions distant from lesions.
- A functional relationship between the cerebral cortex and deep brain structures is known in pathological conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cerebral blood flow in the cortex and deep gray matter (basal ganglia, thalamus) in healthy subjects.
- To explore if this relationship exists in normal individuals during a resting state.
Main Methods:
- Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was used to assess cerebral blood flow in 22 healthy subjects.
- N-isopropyl-p[123I]iodoamphetamine was the radiotracer used.
- Asymmetry Index (AI) of blood flow was calculated for cortical and deep gray matter regions.
Main Results:
- A significant correlation was found between the AI of deep gray matter and the AI of the upper frontal cortex (r=0.54) and parietal cortex (r=0.58).
- The AI in deep gray matter also correlated with the mean cortical hemispheric AI (r=0.48).
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest a functional relationship between the cerebral cortex and deep brain areas in normal subjects at rest.
- This relationship is likely mediated by neuronal mechanisms via projectional fiber connections.