Neuroscience 2004 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 355.10 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Lorazepam dose-dependently decreases activation in bilateral amygdala and insula during emotional processing. |
| Authors: |
Paulus, M. P.*1,2
; Feinstein, J. S.1
; Castillo, G.2
; Simmons, A. N.1
; Stein, M. B.1,2
1Dept Psychiat, UCSD, La Jolla, CA 2CA, 9500 Gilman Dr, 92093-0603, |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Neurological and Psychiatric Conditions - Psychiatric Disorders -- Affective disorders--Experimental pharmacotherapeutics |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | Cognition and Behavior<br />- Motivation and Emotion |
| Session: |
355. Affective Disorders: Experimental Therapeutics II Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Sunday, October 24, 2004 2:00 PM-3:00 PM |
| Location: | San Diego Convention Center - Hall A-H, Board # DDD8 |
| Keywords: | benzodiazepine, fMRI, amygdala, anxiety |
The amygdala and associated limbic structures have long been thought of as key for the expression of anxiety and as treatment targets for anxiolytic drugs. Functional neuroimaging may enable the determination of the site of action of anxiolytic drugs in vivo.
The purpose of the study was to determine whether lorazepam is able to attenuate the blood-oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) activation in the amygdala to a standard emotional face paradigm.
Fifteen healthy volunteers participated in this within-subjects repeated measures design. This study was a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized dose-response study of single-dose placebo, 0.25 mg or 1.0 mg lorazepam administered one hour prior to an MRI session. During the session, the subject completed an emotional face matching paradigm previously shown to elicit amygdala activation.
Each MRI session was spaced at least 1 week apart.
The key measures was the BOLD-fMRI activation in amygdala, insula, and medial prefrontal cortex during the face evaluation relative to the sensorimotor control task.
Lorazepam significantly attenuated the BOLD-fMRI signal in a dose-dependent manner in bilateral amygdala and insula but not in the medial prefrontal cortex. Lorazepam did not affect the BOLD-fMRI signal in primary visual cortex.
The current finding provides the first evidence of a dose-dependent change induced by an established therapeutic agent in brain regions known to be critical for the mediation of anxiety. This investigation may help to support the use of BOLD-fMRI with pharmacological probes to investigate the neural circuits underlying anxiety and to use fMRI as a tool in development of new anxiolytic agents.
The purpose of the study was to determine whether lorazepam is able to attenuate the blood-oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) activation in the amygdala to a standard emotional face paradigm.
Fifteen healthy volunteers participated in this within-subjects repeated measures design. This study was a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized dose-response study of single-dose placebo, 0.25 mg or 1.0 mg lorazepam administered one hour prior to an MRI session. During the session, the subject completed an emotional face matching paradigm previously shown to elicit amygdala activation.
Each MRI session was spaced at least 1 week apart.
The key measures was the BOLD-fMRI activation in amygdala, insula, and medial prefrontal cortex during the face evaluation relative to the sensorimotor control task.
Lorazepam significantly attenuated the BOLD-fMRI signal in a dose-dependent manner in bilateral amygdala and insula but not in the medial prefrontal cortex. Lorazepam did not affect the BOLD-fMRI signal in primary visual cortex.
The current finding provides the first evidence of a dose-dependent change induced by an established therapeutic agent in brain regions known to be critical for the mediation of anxiety. This investigation may help to support the use of BOLD-fMRI with pharmacological probes to investigate the neural circuits underlying anxiety and to use fMRI as a tool in development of new anxiolytic agents.
Supported by DA13186 MH65413
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2004 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2004. Online.
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