MEASUREMENT OF TEMPORAL CHANGES IN NEUROTRANSMITTER LEVELS VIA PET

本子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的众多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能已经从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是中心的，不一定是研究者的机构。这个项目的目标是双重的。第一步是创建适当的数学框架，通过该框架，PET研究与受体配体可以用来重建内源性神经递质释放的时间模式，这些模式发生在对认知或药物刺激的反应中。一旦建立了数学分析技术，我们将把它们应用于从健康的正常对照对象和有酗酒风险的大量（但依赖的）乙醇消费者中获得的PET数据。研究人员提出，由于酒精渴望（由酒精相关线索诱导）而释放的多巴胺的模式在这些受试者群体中是不同的。这项初步研究将允许开发一种新的神经成像技术，并将收集迄今尚未在体内研究过的酒精中毒和药物滥用可能的神经生物学基础的初步数据。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The goal of this project is twofold. The first step is to create the proper mathematical framework by which PET studies with receptor ligands can be used to reconstruct temporal patterns of endogenous neurotransmitter release that occur in response to cognitive or pharmacological stimulation. Once the mathematical analysis techniques have been established, we will apply them to PET data acquired in both healthy normal control subjects and heavy (but dependent) ethanol consumers at risk for alcoholism. It is proposed that the pattern of dopamine released as a result of ethanol craving (induced by alcohol-related cues) will be different between these subject populations. This pilot study will allow development of a novel technique in neuroimaging and will collect preliminary data on possible neurobiological substrates of alcoholism and drug abuse not heretofore examined in vivo.