Combined PET and fMRI imaging of dopamine and serotonin responses in depression

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Simultaneous PET MR is a new imaging modality that offers clear advantages over previous technologies for the mapping of neurotransmitter release. Theoretical analyses, as well as preliminary studies in nonhuman primates, support the hypothesis that sensitivity for detection and quantitative measurement will be can be significantly improved allowing us to extend the range of research questions which can be asked and answered. In this application we propose further development of the methodology, experimental validation, and proof-of-principal studies in depressed patients. In our currently funded R21 application, we proposed that changes in MR measurements blood volume elicited by specific pharmacological challenges were functions of time-varying neurotransmitter levels. Preliminary work with amphetamine and dopamine receptor blockade supports and extends that idea. The dopamine system is but one example of what we postulate is a more general approach, which in this application includes the serotonergic system. We hypothesize that concurrent PET and fMRI will yield synergistic data that, combined with our kinetic analysis methods, can dramatically improve our ability to detect and quantify the spatiotemporal patterns of serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission in the brain. Our interdisciplinary team puts forth an application encompassing technical development and psychiatric investigation in which we propose to refine our kinetic modeling methods, develop methods to quantitatively integrate fMRI and PET data, and assess the translational value of these methods to study dopamine and serotonin transmission in clinical depression.