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Abstract #3301

Investigation of Metabolic Changes in Human Visual Cortex During Neuronal Activity Using Functional Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy at 7T

Yan Lin1, Mary Charlotte Stephenson1, Samuel James Wharton1, Olivier Mougin1, Antonio Napolitano2, Peter G. Morris1

1Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom; 2Academic Radiology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom


The purpose of the present study was to use the improved SNR and spectral resolution available at 7T to study changes in 1H metabolite levels in the visual cortex on visual stimulation. Specifically, the aim was to confirm and quantify the increase in glutamate/glutamine levels suggested by others, and to investigate further any lactate response to visual stimulation. We found a significant increase in glutamate of 6.13%4.6% on visual stimulation, similar to that reported by Mangia et al (2007). However, we do not find evidence for the increase in glutamine and lactate, or a decrease in aspartate, as previously reported.