Development of frontal GABA and glutamate supports excitation/inhibition balance from adolescence into adulthood

Animal and human postmortem studies provide evidence for changes in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate in prefrontal cortex (PFC) during adolescence, suggesting shifts in excitation and inhibition balance consistent with critical period plasticity. However, how GABA and glutamate change th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Progress in neurobiology 2022-12, Vol.219, p.102370-102370, Article 102370
Main Authors: Perica, Maria I., Calabro, Finnegan J., Larsen, Bart, Foran, Will, Yushmanov, Victor E., Hetherington, Hoby, Tervo-Clemmens, Brenden, Moon, Chan-Hong, Luna, Beatriz
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescence
Adolescent
Adult
Cortex
Creatine
Critical period
Excitation/inhibition balance
Frontal
GABA
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
Glutamate
Glutamic Acid
Humans
Inhibition, Psychological
Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods
Prefrontal Cortex
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Summary:Animal and human postmortem studies provide evidence for changes in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate in prefrontal cortex (PFC) during adolescence, suggesting shifts in excitation and inhibition balance consistent with critical period plasticity. However, how GABA and glutamate change through adolescence and how the balance of these inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters changes is not well understood in vivo in humans. High field (7 Tesla) Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging was used to investigate age-related changes in the balance of GABA/creatine (Cr) and glutamate/Cr in multiple developmentally-relevant regions of frontal cortex in 144 10–30-year-olds. Results indicated a homogenous pattern of age-related Glu/Cr decreases across regions, while age-related changes in GABA/Cr were heterogenous, with a mix of stable and decreasing age effects. Importantly, balance between glutamate/Cr and GABA/Cr in areas of frontal cortex increased through adolescence, suggesting the presence of critical period plasticity in frontal cortex at this significant time of development when adult trajectories are established. •Glu/Cr derived from 7T MRSI decreased through adolescence in frontal regions, while GABA/Cr either decreased or was stable.•The correlation of frontal Glu/GABA increased from childhood to adolescence reflecting possible increases in E/I balance.•Age-related changes in frontal glutamate and GABA through adolescence may reflect critical period plasticity.
ISSN:0301-0082
1873-5118
DOI:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102370