Neuroscience 2003 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 416.3 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Voxel-based analysis of MRI reveals anterior cingulate gray matter volume reduction in posttraumatic stress disorder due to terrorism. |
| Authors: |
Yamasue, H.*1
; Kasai, K.1
; Iwanami, A.1
; Ohtani, T.1
; Yamada, H.2
; Abe, O.2
; Kuroki, N.1
; Fukuda, R.1
; Tochigi, M.1
; Furukawa, S.1
; Sadamatsu, M.1
; Sasaki, T.1
; Aoki, S.2
; Ohtomo, K.2
; Asukai, N.1
; Kato, N.1
1Neuropsychiat., Univ. of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan 2Japan, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8655, |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Neurological and Psychiatric Conditions - Psychiatric Disorders -- Anxiety disorders |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | Neurological and Psychiatric Conditions<br />- Psychiatric Disorders<br />-- Other |
| Session: |
416. Anxiety: PTSD/OCD/Panic Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Monday, November 10, 2003 10:00 AM-11:00 AM |
| Location: | Morial Convention Center - Hall F-I, Board # OO5 |
| Keywords: | SPM, statistical parametric mapping, anterior cingulate cortex, voxel-based morphometry |
MRI studies using the manual tracing method have shown a smaller than normal hippocampal volume in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, these studies have yielded inconsistent results, and brain structures other than the hippocampus have not been well investigated. A recently developed, fully-automated method called voxel-based morphometry (VBM) enables an exploration of structural changes throughout the brain by applying statistical parametric mapping to high-resolution MRI. Here we firstly utilized this technology in patients with PTSD. Participants were nine victims of the Tokyo subway sarin attack with PTSD and sixteen matched victims of the same traumatic event without PTSD. The VBM showed a significant gray matter volume reduction in the left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in traumatic-survivors with PTSD compared with those without PTSD. The severity of the disorder was negatively correlated with the gray matter volume of the left ACC in PTSD subjects. There were no significant differences in other gray matter regions or any of the white matter regions between two groups. The present study demonstrates first evidence for structural abnormalities of ACC in patients with PTSD. Together with previous functional neuroimaging studies showing a dysfunction of this region, the present findings provide further support for the important role of ACC, which is pivotally involved in attention, emotional regulation and conditioned fear, in the pathology of PTSD.
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2003 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. New Orleans, LA: Society for Neuroscience, 2003. Online.
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