Visual stimuli induce serotonin release in occipital cortex: A simultaneous positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging study.

ABSTRACT: 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 [¹¹ C]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 occi

SUBMITTER: Hansen HD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7555083 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature