Activation of Human Medial Prefrontal Cortex during Autonomic Responses to Hypoglycemia

Studies in humans implicate the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) in complex cognitive and emotional states. We measured regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) four times each during euglycemia (5.2 ± 0.2 mmol/liter) and hypoglycemia (3.0 ± 0.3 mmol/liter) in nine normal human volunteers. Autonomic respon...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2004-04, Vol.101 (16), p.6217-6221
Main Authors: Teves, Denise, Videen, Tom O., Cryer, Philip E., Powers, William J., Raichle, Marcus E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Autonomic Nervous System - diagnostic imaging
Autonomic Nervous System - physiopathology
Biological Sciences
Blood flow
Blood plasma
Brain stem
Cerebrovascular Circulation
Female
Globus pallidus
Hippocampus
Humans
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia - physiopathology
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Neurology
Positron emission tomography
Prefrontal cortex
Prefrontal Cortex - blood supply
Prefrontal Cortex - diagnostic imaging
Prefrontal Cortex - physiopathology
Statistical significance
Thalamus
Tomography, Emission-Computed
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Summary:Studies in humans implicate the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) in complex cognitive and emotional states. We measured regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) four times each during euglycemia (5.2 ± 0.2 mmol/liter) and hypoglycemia (3.0 ± 0.3 mmol/liter) in nine normal human volunteers. Autonomic responses during hypoglycemia were manifested by increases in neurogenic symptoms, heart rate, and plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and pancreatic polypeptide. Typical symptoms of hypoglycemia were mild, and none reflected evidence of cognitive or emotional stress. Quantitative CBF fell 6-8% in the cerebrum, brainstem, and cerebellum. Analysis of regional CBF differences identified neuronal activation during hypoglycemia in bilateral MPFC (areas 24 and 32) and bilateral thalamus. These results provide evidence that the MPFC participates in the autonomic responses to simple physiological stimuli in humans.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.0307048101