Right prefrontal activation produced by arterial baroreceptor stimulation: a PET study

Neuroreport. 2001 Oct 29;12(15):3233-8. doi: 10.1097/00001756-200110290-00018.

Abstract

This study was performed to test the hypothesis of greater right hemispheric involvement in the processing of baroreceptor stimuli. Carotid sinus baroreceptors were stimulated by rhythmically decreasing air pressure in a neck chamber, and under control conditions the thorax was stimulated in a similar manner. Changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were measured by PET. Baroreceptor stimulation resulted in rCBF increase in the right anterior-inferior prefrontal cortex (Brodmann areas (BA) 10/44/47) and bilaterally in BA 6/8. We conclude that in at least some stages of baroreceptor information processing the right hemisphere plays a greater role than the left hemisphere.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Baroreflex / physiology*
  • Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena
  • Carotid Sinus / physiology*
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology
  • Functional Laterality / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Periodicity
  • Physical Stimulation
  • Prefrontal Cortex / diagnostic imaging*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiology
  • Pressoreceptors / physiology*
  • Pressure
  • Respiratory Physiological Phenomena
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed
  • Visceral Afferents / physiology*