Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET oxygen-15 labeled water or PET [15O]H2O) was used to identify changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in response to acute vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in four subjects with treatment-resistant major depression (TRMD). Four 90-s PET [15O]H2O scans were performed on each subject in an off-on sequence (2 VNS de-activated; 2 VNS activated). PET images were aligned, normalized for global uptake, and resampled to standard atlas space. Statistical t-images were used to evaluate change. VNS-induced increases in rCBF were found in the bilateral orbitofrontal cortex, bilateral anterior cingulate cortex, and right superior and medial frontal cortex. Decreases were found in the bilateral temporal cortex and right parietal area. Regions of change were consistent with brain structures associated with depression and the afferent pathways of the vagus nerve.
Publication types
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Randomized Controlled Trial
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Brain / blood supply*
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Brain / metabolism
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Brain / physiopathology
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Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology
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Depressive Disorder, Major / metabolism
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Depressive Disorder, Major / physiopathology
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Depressive Disorder, Major / therapy*
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Double-Blind Method
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Electric Stimulation / instrumentation
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Electrodes, Implanted
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Female
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Frontal Lobe / blood supply
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Frontal Lobe / metabolism
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Frontal Lobe / physiopathology
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Functional Laterality / physiology
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Gyrus Cinguli / blood supply
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Gyrus Cinguli / metabolism
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Gyrus Cinguli / physiopathology
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Humans
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Neurons, Afferent / physiology
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Oxygen / metabolism
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Parietal Lobe / blood supply
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Parietal Lobe / metabolism
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Parietal Lobe / physiopathology
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Positron-Emission Tomography
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Prefrontal Cortex / blood supply
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Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism
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Prefrontal Cortex / physiopathology
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Temporal Lobe / blood supply
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Temporal Lobe / metabolism
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Temporal Lobe / physiopathology
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Thoracic Wall
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Vagus Nerve / physiology*