Does mental activity change the oxidative metabolism of the brain

摘要: Previous studies have shown that sensory stimulation and voluntary motor activity increase regional cerebral glucose consumption blood flow (rCBF). The present study had 3 purposes: (1) to examine whether pure mental changed the oxidative metabolism of brain and, if so, (2) which anatomical structures were participating in activity; there was any coupling rCBF physiological changes (rCMRO2). With a positron- emission tomograph (PET), we measured rCMRO2, rCBF, volume (rCBV) independent sessions lasting 100 sec each. A dynamic method used for measurement rCMRO2. rCBV 2 different states 10 young, healthy volunteers: at rest when visually imagining specific route familiar surroundings. linearly correlated rCMRO2: (in ml/100 gm/min) = 11.4 rCMRO2 + 11.9. visual imagery increased 25 cortical fields, ranging size from cm3, located homotypical cortex. Active fields superior lateral prefrontal cortex frontal eye fields. strongest appeared posterior parietal medial precuneus. Subcortically, neostriatum thalamus. These focal metabolic increases so strong CMRO2 whole by 10%. proportionally these active structures, such d(rCBF) gm/min 11.1 d(rCMRO2). Thus, observed during neural metabolism. On basis previous functional activation our knowledge connections man other primates, cortices classified as remote visual-association areas generation images spatial scenes memory, thalamus assumed participate retrieval memories.