Abstract #2537

Voxel-Based Morphometry in Assessing a Rat Model of Impulsivity: Agreement with Targeted Western Blot Analysis

Stephen John Sawiak^1,2, Daniele Caprioli³, E. Merlo³, D. Theobald³, B. J. Everitt³, T. W. Robbins^2.3, T. A. Carpenter¹, Jeffrey W. Dalley^3,4

¹Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, United Kingdom; ²Behavioural & Clinical Neurosciences Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; ³Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; ⁴Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Voxel-based morphometry is used to identify areas of grey matter changes based on scores measured in a rat model of impulsivity. Significant reductions in grey matter correlating with impulsivity score are found in the nucleus accumbens and parietal cortex, and these are pursued with Western blot analysis. Protein changes found match the pattern of results found in VBM, showing that MRI and VBM are useful in this model to provide insight into impulsivity and brain structure.