Regionally specific human GABA concentration correlates with tactile discrimination thresholds.
Regionally specific human GABA concentration correlates with tactile discrimination thresholds.
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DOI：
10.1523/jneurosci.4489-11.2011
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发表时间：
2011-11-16
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影响因子：
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通讯作者：
McGonigle DJ
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作者：
Puts NA;Edden RA;Evans CJ;McGlone F;McGonigle DJ
人类感官知觉变异性的神经机制仍然不完全清楚。特别是，很少有研究试图调查在体内测量的神经化学和个人的行为表现之间的关系。我们的前期工作发现了视觉皮层中GABA浓度与方位辨别阈值之间的关系。在本研究中，我们使用磁共振波谱的GABA和振动触觉频率阈值的心理物理测试，探讨是否触觉频率辨别性能的个体差异与感觉运动皮层中的GABA浓度。在行为上，个体表现出广泛的辨别阈值，范围从3到7.6 Hz，围绕25 Hz的标准。这些频率辨别阈值与个体感觉运动皮层的GABA浓度显著相关（r =-0.58; p < 0.05），但与枕叶控制区的GABA浓度无关（r =-0.04）。这些结果表明，GABA浓度和频率歧视之间的联系在体内，并支持GABA能机制在感觉歧视中发挥重要作用的假设。
The neural mechanisms underlying variability in human sensory perception remain incompletely understood. In particular, few studies have attempted to investigate the relationship between in vivo measurements of neurochemistry and individuals’ behavioral performance. Our previous work found a relationship between GABA concentration in the visual cortex and orientation discrimination thresholds. In the present study, we used magnetic resonance spectroscopy of GABA and psychophysical testing of vibrotactile frequency thresholds to investigate whether individual differences in tactile frequency discrimination performance are correlated with GABA concentration in sensorimotor cortex. Behaviorally, individuals showed a wide range of discrimination thresholds ranging from 3 to 7.6 Hz around the 25 Hz standard. These frequency discrimination thresholds were significantly correlated with GABA concentration (r = −0.58; p < 0.05) in individuals’ sensorimotor cortex, but not with GABA concentration in an occipital control region (r = −0.04). These results demonstrate a link between GABA concentration and frequency discrimination in vivo, and support the hypothesis that GABAergic mechanisms have an important role to play in sensory discrimination.