Analysis of neuroreceptor PET-data based on cytoarchitectonic maximum probability maps: a feasibility study

Three-dimensional maximum probability maps (MPMs) of cytoarchitectonically defined cortical regions based on postmortem histological studies have recently been made available in the stereotaxic reference space of the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) single subject template. This permits the use of cytoarchitectonic maps for the analysis of functional in vivo datasets, including neuroreceptor positron emission tomography (PET) studies. In this feasibility study, we used 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT2A) receptor PET to test the applicability of maximum cytoarchitectonic probability maps for quantitative analysis. As the outcome parameter, we extracted local distribution volume ratios (DVRs) from 19 cytoarchitectonically defined volumes of interest (VOIs) per hemisphere from five healthy subjects. The experimental design included a forward ('PET to atlas' normalization) and a backward ('atlas to PET' normalization) procedure to double-check the stability of transformation and overlay. Resulting DVRs were compared with receptor densities (RDs) obtained from postmortem [3H]ketanserin autoradiography of multiple areas. Correlations between the bi-directional normalization procedures (r = 0.89; 38 VOIs) as well as between in vivo and vitro data (nine VOIs; r = 0.64 and r = 0.47 for forward and backward procedure, respectively) suggest that the implementation of cytoarchitectonic maximum probability maps is a promising method for an accurate and observer-independent analysis of neuroreceptor PET data.

Fully-automated detection of cerebral water content changes: Study of age- and gender-related H2O patterns with quantitative MRI

We present a simple and robust method for the automated image analysis of quantitative cerebral water content maps acquired with MRI. The method is based on a new approach for the absolute and quantitative mapping of water content in vivo. Water content maps were automatically segmented into grey and white matter by employing the quantitative T1 information acquired as part of the water content mapping procedure. Based on the segmented maps, twenty-two parameters sensitive to both absolute water content and its spatial organisation are automatically extracted without user interaction. The parameters include, amongst others, absolute water content in grey and white matter and spatial asymmetries of the cerebral water content distribution. Significant age- and gender-related changes in the parameters determined were observed in a study of forty-four healthy subjects. Most notably, the grey matter water content decreases at a rate of 0.034%/year for females between the 3rd and 8th decade of life, whilst a much stronger decrease is observed in males which sets in after the 5th decade of life. In addition, female grey matter water content is, on average, 1.2% higher than the respective male grey matter water content. In contrast to the heterogeneity observed in grey matter, no significant physiological variation was observed for white matter water content. In addition to absolute grey matter water content, characteristic age- and gender-specific variations were also observed in most of the other variables. To check the potential loss of information associated with the large reduction of the dimensionality of the dataset to 22 parameters only, the age and gender of each individual subject were predicted by employing robust linear discriminant analysis based on only the determined twenty-two variables. The median deviation between predicted and real age was 6.3 years resulting in a high correlation coefficient between both values (r = 0.69). Gender is correctly predicted in 68.2% of all cases which improves to 87.5% when age-dependent effects are first corrected, demonstrating the high information content present in the variables even though the dimension of the dataset was significantly reduced. These results form the baseline for future studies of cerebral pathology. The method presented is fully automated, robust and flexible, making it an ideal tool for routine application in both neuroscientific studies and clinical diagnosis based on the quantitative measurement of cerebral water content.

18F-CPFPX PET: on the generation of parametric images and the effect of scan duration

8-cyclopentyl-3-(3-18F-fluoropropyl)-1-propylxanthine (18F-CPFPX) is a novel PET ligand for in vivo quantification of cerebral A1 adenosine receptors. The present study investigated the applicability of voxelwise graphical analysis to the generation of parametric images of the total volume of distribution (DVt) of 18F-CPFPX as a prerequisite for voxel-by-voxel statistical analysis. The benefit of spatial smoothing for reduction of noise-dependent negative bias in graphical analysis was examined. Additionally, the effect of scan duration on the accuracy of analyses based on volumes of interest (VOIs) and individual voxels was explored.

METHODS

Ten healthy male volunteers underwent bolus-injection 18F-CPFPX PET (90 min). The data were analyzed using a 2-tissue-compartment model and graphical analysis. Voxelwise graphical analysis was performed with and without preceding spatial gaussian smoothing.

RESULTS

Voxelwise graphical analysis yielded high-quality parametric images. However, voxelwise graphical analysis suffered from a negative bias (mean bias in cortical regions, -9.6% to -7.5%), which could be attenuated considerably by spatial smoothing (using a kernel of 5 mm in full width at half maximum, bias of -4.0% to -1.9%). Shortening the total scan duration to 60 min had minor effects on the accuracy of VOI-based analysis (15 VOIs x 10 subjects); the resulting error only occasionally exceeded +/-5% in individual regions (n = 6 for 2-tissue-compartment model, n = 10 for VOI-based graphical analysis, always within +/-7.5%). Quantification accuracy was acceptable with scan durations of 60 and 75 min in voxelwise graphical analysis with spatial smoothing (mean bias in cortical regions, -8.4% to -5.9%) and without spatial smoothing (bias, -9.2% to -11.6%), respectively.

CONCLUSION

High-quality DVt parametric images of 18F-CPFPX can be generated by voxelwise graphical analysis. The noise-dependent negative bias of voxelwise graphical analysis is greatly reduced by spatial smoothing. A shortened scan of 60 min will enhance the clinical applicability of 18F-CPFPX PET.

Impaired maze performance in aged rats is accompanied by increased density of NMDA, 5-HT1A, and α-adrenoceptor binding in hippocampus

Using quantitative receptor autoradiography, we assessed binding site densities and distribution patterns of glutamate, GABA(A), acetylcholine (ACh), and monoamine receptors in the hippocampus of 32-month-old Fischer 344/Brown Norway rats. Prior to autoradiography, the rats were divided into two groups according to their retention performance in a water maze reference memory task, which was assessed 1 week after 8 days of daily maze training. The animals of the inferior group showed less long-term retention of the hidden-platform task but did not differ from superior rats in their navigation performance during place training and cued trials. The decreased retention performance in the group of inferior learners was primarily accompanied by increased alpha(1)-adrenoceptors in all hippocampal subregions under inspection (CA1-CA4 and dentate gyrus), while elevated alpha(2)-adrenoceptor binding was observed in the CA1 region and DG. Furthermore, inferior learners had higher NMDA binding in the CA2 and CA4 and increased 5-HT(1A) binding sites in the CA2, CA3, and CA4 region. No significant differences between inferior and superior learners were evident with regard to AMPA, kainate, GABA(A), muscarinergic M(1), dopamine D(1), and 5-HT(2) binding densities in any hippocampal region analyzed. These results show that increased NMDA, 5-HT(1A), and alpha-adrenoceptor binding in the hippocampus is associated with a decline in spatial memory. The increased receptor binding observed in the group of old rats with inferior maze performance might be the result of neural adaptation triggered by age-related changes in synaptic connectivity and/or synaptic activity.

Left-Right Asymmetry in Volume and Number of Neurons in Adult Broca's Area

Total neuron number in, and volume of, Brodmann areas (BA) 44 and 45 (Broca's area) were studied in Nissl-stained sections from the left and right hemispheres of five adult men and five adult women. The volume of BA 44 was greater in the left hemisphere than in the right in all ten cases, although asymmetry was only significant for the subgroup of male subjects. For six of the ten subjects (including all females), the volume of BA 45 was greater in the left hemisphere than the right. This asymmetry was significant only for the women. A significant left-over-right asymmetry has been found in total neuron number in male BA 44. Although the total number of neurons in left BA 45 was larger in all five female subjects, this asymmetry did not reach significant difference. In the male subjects no significant asymmetry difference in total neuron number was found in BA 45 either. There was no significant hemispheric asymmetry or gender interaction for neuronal number density, either in BA 44 or 45. This study is the first quantitative study of total number of neurons in BA 44 and 45 in adult subjects, and demonstrates that both the volume and the total neuron number of BA 44 and 45 on the left are generally greater than that of the right hemisphere, with the possible exception of the male BA 45. In addition, it shows that the inter-individual variability was also very large (more than twofold) in the numerical values of all variables.

When visual perception causes feeling: Enhanced cross-modal processing in grapheme-color synesthesia

In synesthesia, stimulation of one sensory modality (e.g., hearing) triggers a percept in another, non-stimulated sensory modality (e.g., vision). Likewise, perception of a form (e.g., a letter) may induce a color percept (i.e., grapheme-color synesthesia). To date, the neural mechanisms underlying synesthesia remain to be elucidated. We disclosed by fMRI, while controlling for surface color processing, enhanced activity in the left intraparietal cortex during the experience of grapheme-color synesthesia (n = 9). In contrast, the perception of surface color per se activated the color centers in the fusiform gyrus bilaterally. The data support theoretical accounts that grapheme-color synesthesia may originate from enhanced cross-modal binding of form and color. A mismatch of surface color and grapheme induced synesthetically felt color additionally activated the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). This suggests that cognitive control processes become active to resolve the perceptual conflict resulting from synesthesia.

The role of the left Brodmann's areas 44 and 45 in reading words and pseudowords

In this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we investigated the influence of two task (lexical decision, LDT; phonological decision, PDT) on activation in Broca's region (left Brodmann's areas [BA] 44 and 45) during the processing of visually presented words and pseudowords. Reaction times were longer for pseudowords than words in LDT but did not differ in PDT. By combining the fMRI data with cytoarchitectonic anatomical probability maps, we demonstrated that the left BA 44 and BA 45 were stronger activated for pseudowords than for words. Separate analyses for LDT and PDT revealed that the left BA 44 was activated in both tasks, whereas left BA 45 was only involved in LDT. The results are interpreted within a dual-route model of reading with the left BA 44 supporting grapheme-to-phoneme conversion and the left BA 45 being related to explicit lexical search.

Differential brain activation according to chronic social reward frustration

Neural correlates of reward frustration are increasingly studied in humans. In line with prediction error theory, omission of an expected reward is associated with relative decreases of cerebral activation in dopaminergic brain areas. We investigated whether a history of chronic work-related reward frustration influences this reward-dependent activation pattern by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging. Solving arithmetic tasks was followed by either monetary reward or omission of reward. Hyperactivations in the medial prefrontal, anterior cingulate and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex were observed in a group of healthy adults with high susceptibility to reward frustration as compared with a group with low susceptibility. Findings indicate a compromised ability of adapting brain activation among those suffering form chronic social reward frustration.

1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 treatment does not alter neuronal cyclooxygenase-2 expression in the cerebral cortex after stroke

The inducible prostaglandin synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, is upregulated in response to cerebral ischemia and contributes to potentiation of oxidative injury. Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is regulated by retinoic acid receptors, which form heterodimers with vitamin D receptors and vitamin D. In addition, vitamin D has been reported to have neuroprotective qualities. The aim of this study was to examine whether the biologically active vitamin D3-metabolite 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-D3), influences the expression of inducible cyclooxygenase-2 in photothrombotically lesioned brain or is part of an independent neuroprotective mechanism. We compared groups of nonlesioned control rats and infarcted animals, which were treated with either 1,25-D3 or solvent at different times postlesion. In control animals, cyclooxygenase-2 immunoreactivity was readily evident in almost all cortical neurons of layers II/III as well as in a few pyramidal cells in layer V. Following photothrombotic infarction of the right cortical hindlimb area, there was a significant, but transient, increase in cyclooxygenase-2 labeling which was restricted to neurons of the injured hemisphere in both 1,25- D3-treated and solvent-treated rats. Highest levels of cyclooxygenase-2 immunoreactivity were seen at 12 and 24 h postlesion, followed by a gradual decrease at later time points. However, no significant differences were detected between 1,25-D3-treated and solvent-treated lesioned rats, indicating that postischemic neuronal cyclooxygenase-2 upregulation is not influenced by 1,25-D3. It is concluded that the neuroprotective effect of 1,25-D3 does not depend on modulations of neuronal COX-2 expression caused by postlesional hyperexcitation.

Preferred stereoselective brain uptake of d-serine — a modulator of glutamatergic neurotransmission

Although it has long been presumed that d-amino acids are uncommon in mammalians, substantial amounts of free d-serine have been detected in the mammalian brain. d-Serine has been demonstrated to be an important modulator of glutamatergic neurotransmission and acts as an agonist at the strychnine-insensitive glycine site of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors. The blood-to-brain transfer of d-serine is thought to be extremely low, and it is assumed that d-serine is generated by isomerization of l-serine in the brain. Stimulated by the observation of a preferred transport of the d-isomer of proline at the blood-brain barrier, we investigated the differential uptake of [3H]-d-serine and [3H]-l-serine in the rat brain 1 h after intravenous injection using quantitative autoradiography. Surprisingly, brain uptake of [3H]-d-serine was significantly higher than that of [3H]-l-serine, indicating a preferred transport of the d-enantiomer of serine at the blood-brain barrier. This finding indicates that exogenous d-serine may have a direct influence on glutamatergic neurotransmission and associated diseases.

White matter fiber tracts of the human brain: three-dimensional mapping at microscopic resolution, topography and intersubject variability

The position and extent of individual fiber tracts within the white matter of human brains can be identified in vivo using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and fiber tracking methods. Previous to this study, however, the lack of three-dimensional (3-D) probability maps precluded comparing the anatomical precision of MRI studies with microscopically defined fiber tracts in human postmortem brains. The present study provides 3-D registered maps of the topography, course and intersubject variability of major fiber tracts, which were identified at microscopic resolution. The analyzed tracts include the corticospinal tract, optic and acoustic radiations, fornix, cingulum, corpus callosum, superior longitudinal, superior and inferior occipito-frontal and uncinate fascicles; sources and targets of fiber tracts include the lateral and medial geniculate nuclei and mamillary bodies. Tracts and nuclei were identified in serial myelin-stained histological sections of ten postmortem brains. The sections were 3-D reconstructed and registered to a standardized stereotaxic space of an in vivo MR reference brain by means of linear and non-linear, elastic transformations. The individual fiber tracts and nuclei were superimposed in the reference space, and probability maps were generated as a quantitative measure of intersubject variability for each voxel of the stereotaxic space. This study presents the first stereotaxic atlas of the course, location and extent of fiber tracts and related nuclei based on microscopically defined localization and topographic data taken at multiple levels on each of the three orthogonal planes. The maps are useful for evaluating and identifying fiber bundles in DTI, for localizing subcortical lesions visible in anatomical MR images and for studying neuronal connectivity.

Taurine-transporter gene knockout-induced changes in GABAA, kainate and AMPA but not NMDA receptor binding in mouse brain

The aim of this study was to determine whether the knockout of the taurine-transporter gene in the mouse affects the densities of GABA(A), kainate, AMPA and NMDA receptors in the brain. The caudate-putamen, the hippocampus and its subregions, and the cerebellum of six homozygous taurine-transporter gene knockout mice and six wild-type (WT) animals were examined by means of quantitative receptor autoradiography. Saturation studies were carried out for all four receptor types in order to find possible intergroup differences in Bmax and K(D) values. Taurine-transporter gene knockout animals showed significantly higher GABA(A) receptor densities in the molecular layer of the hippocampal dentate gyrus and in the cerebellum than did WT animals. The densities of kainate receptors were significantly higher in the caudate-putamen, the CA1 and hilus regions of the hippocampus and in the cerebellum of knockout animals. The caudate-putamen and cerebellum of these mice also contained significantly higher AMPA receptor densities. However, there were no significant differences between knockout and WT animals concerning the densities of NMDA receptors. Reduced brain taurine levels are associated with increased GABA(A), kainate and AMPA receptor densities in some of the regions we examined.

Decreased prefrontal 5-HT2A receptor binding in subjects at enhanced risk for schizophrenia

The brain serotonin-2A receptor (5-HT(2A)R) has been implicated in both the pathology of schizophrenia and the therapeutic action of atypical antipsychotics. However, little is known about the 5-HT(2A)R status before the onset of schizophrenia and before the exposure to antipsychotics. We used [18F] altanserin and positron emission tomography (PET) in a pilot study of 6 individuals suspected to be at elevated risk for schizophrenia and seven age-matched controls to test the hypothesis that regional 5-HT(2A)R binding is altered in the prodromal stages of schizophrenia. Distribution volume ratios (DVRs) as a proxy for 5-HT(2A)R availability were significantly reduced in prefrontal cortex regions of at-risk subjects, implicating early abnormalities of serotonergic neurotransmission that antecede the onset of schizophrenia.

The macaque inferior parietal lobule: cytoarchitecture and distribution pattern of serotonin 5-HT1A binding sites

The inferior parietal lobule (IPL) of the macaque monkey integrates sensory information as a prerequisite for reaching and grasping movements. Electrophysiological data suggest that the convexity of the IPL is heterogeneous along its rostro-caudal axis. Cytoarchitecture reflects this functional diversity. However, various parcellations have been proposed so far, ranging from one homogeneous region to four areas. In order to obtain a more valid anatomical map of the IPL, we studied the distribution pattern of serotonin 5-HT1A binding sites (i.e., the domain of synaptic transmission and cortical information processing) and cytoarchitecture with an observer-independent technique (thus avoiding the subjectivity inherent in visually guided microstructural parcellations). We cut with a cryostat microtome four unfixed macaque hemispheres and processed sections for 5-HT1A binding sites with [3H]8-OH-DPAT receptor autoradiography or for cell bodies with a modified silver stain. We digitized the autoradiographs and the histological sections and extracted from the cortex of the IPL equidistant density profiles oriented vertically to the cortical layers. We then compared groups of neighboring profiles with multivariate statistics expecting to see a significant difference in profile shape at the interface between two cortical areas. These positions were compared between 5-HT1A autoradiographs (neurochemical borders) and adjacent histological sections (cytoarchitectonic borders). Neurochemical and cytoarchitectonic borders showed a good topographical correspondence and revealed three areas arranged in a rostro-caudal sequence along the convexity of the IPL. Dorsally, the areas extend approximately 1 mm into the depth of the lateral bank of the intraparietal sulcus. Their ventral border lies on the convexity of the IPL close to the shoulder of the lateral sulcus. The three areas are in close agreement with areas PF, PFG, and PG as defined by Pandya and Seltzer (J Comp Neurol 204:196-210, 1982) and Gregoriou et al. (Program No. 919.5, Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner, Washington, Society for Neuroscience, 2003). The neurochemical and cytoarchitectonic data show that a complex structural framework underlies the functional heterogeneity along the rostro-caudal axis of the IPL, e.g., the representation of different types of arm and hand actions in different sectors of the monkey's workspace.

Consequences of large interindividual variability for human brain atlases: converging macroscopical imaging and microscopical neuroanatomy

In human brain imaging studies, it is common practice to use the Talairach stereotaxic reference system for signifying the convergence of brain function and structure. In nearly all neuroimaging reports, the studied cortical areas are specified further with a Brodmann Area (BA) number. This specification is based upon macroscopic extrapolation from Brodmann's projection maps into the Talairach atlas rather than upon a real microscopic cytoarchitectonic study. In this review we argue that such a specification of Brodmann area(s) via the Talairach atlas is not appropriate. Cytoarchitectonic studies reviewed in this paper show large interindividual differences in 3-D location of primary sensory cortical areas (visual cortex) as well as heteromodal associational areas (prefrontal cortical areas), even after correction for differences in brain size and shape. Thus, the simple use of Brodmann cortical areas derived from the Talairach atlas can lead to erroneous results in the specification of pertinent BA. This in turn can further lead to wrong hypotheses on brain system(s) involved in normal functions or in specific brain disorders. In addition, we will briefly discuss the different 'Brodmann' nomenclatures which are in use for the cerebral cortex.

Regional and subtype selective changes of neurotransmitter receptor density in a rat transgenic for the Huntington's disease mutation

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominantly inherited progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG/polyglutamine repeat expansion in the gene encoding the huntingtin protein. We have recently generated a rat model transgenic for HD, which displays a slowly progressive phenotype resembling the human adult-onset type of disease. In this study we systematically assessed the distribution and density of 17 transmitter receptors in the brains of 2-year-old rats using quantitative multi-tracer autoradiography and high-resolution positron emission tomography. Heterozygous animals expressed increased densities of M(2) acetylcholine (increase of 148 +/- 16% of controls; p > 0.001; n = 7), nicotine (increase of 149 +/- 16% of controls; p > 0.01; n = 6), and alpha(2) noradrenergic receptors (increase of 141 +/- 15% of controls; p > 0.001; n = 6), respectively. Densities of these receptors were decreased in homozygous animals. Decreases of receptor density in both hetero- and homozygous animals were found for M1 acetylcholine, 5-HT 2A serotonin, A 2A adenosine, D1 and D2 dopamine, and GABA(A) receptors, respectively. Other investigated receptor systems showed small changes or were not affected. The present data suggest that the moderate increase of CAG/polyglutamine repeat expansions in the present rat model of Huntington's disease is characterized by subtype-selective and region-specific changes of neuroreceptor densities. In particular, there is evidence for a contribution of predominantly presynaptically localized cholinergic and noradrenergic receptors in the response to Huntington's disease pathology.

Multimodal architectonic mapping of human superior temporal gyrus

Although it is generally accepted that human superior temporal gyrus is activated by a huge variety of auditory and linguistic tasks, little is known about the exact positions and extents of cortical areas that are located on the lateral convexity of the gyrus (e.g., Brodmann's area 22). Such information, however, is relevant for a rigorous testing of structural-functional relationships in both normal volunteers and patients suffering from disorders of auditory and language perception. The present combined cytoarchitectonic and receptorarchitectonic study identifies a distinct area (Te3) in the lateral bulge of the superior temporal gyrus by using an algorithm-based approach for the detection of cortical borders. Our mapping data show that, in contrast to Brodmann's area (BA) 22, only small portions of Te3 reach the dorsal and ventral banks of the gyrus. Therefore, we labelled the newly defined area as "Te3" and not as "BA 22". The cytoarchitectonically defined borders of Te3 coincide with abrupt changes in the receptorarchitecture of several classical neurotransmitters, suggesting that Te3 represents a functionally relevant area of the human superior temporal gyrus. Since position and extent of area Te3 varied considerably between subjects, probability maps were created that show for each voxel of the standard references space, the frequency with which Te3 was present in it. These maps, in combination with previously published maps of the primary auditory cortex, can directly be compared with functional imaging data, and may open new perspectives for the analysis of structural-functional correlations in the human auditory and language systems.

Dual-contrast echo planar imaging with keyhole: application to dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion studies

A new EPI-based method is presented which features optimized sampling of k-space enabling the integrated acquisition of two gradient echo images. The first of these images is predominantly T1 weighted and the second is T*2 weighted. The new method combines echo sharing of sparsely acquired high spatial frequency components with the keyhole technique and half-Fourier image reconstruction. The feasibility of acquiring high spatial and temporal resolution in vivo images for perfusion mapping is demonstrated. In contrast to most current perfusion methods, which acquire the T1- and T*2-weighted images in separate acquisitions, the need for image co-registration here is obviated since both sets of images are EPI-based and are acquired within the same measurement.

Common and Differential Neural Mechanisms Supporting Imitation of Meaningful and Meaningless Actions

Neuropsychological studies indicate that, after brain damage, the ability to imitate meaningful or meaningless actions can be selectively impaired. However, the neural bases supporting the imitation of these two types of action are still poorly understood. Using PET, we investigated in 10 healthy individuals the neural mechanisms of imitating novel, meaningless actions and familiar, meaningful actions. Data were analyzed using SPM99. During imitation, a significant positive correlation (p < .05, corrected) of regional cerebral blood flow with the amount of meaningful actions was observed in the left inferior temporal gyrus only. In contrast, a significant positive correlation (p < .05, corrected) with the amount of meaningless movements was observed in the right parieto-occipital junction. The direct categorical comparison of imitating meaningful (100%) relative to meaningless (100%) actions showed differential increases in neural activity (p < .001, uncorrected) in the left inferior temporal gyrus, the left parahippocampal gyrus, and the left angular gyrus. The reverse categorical comparison of imitating meaningless (100%) relative to meaningful (100%) actions revealed differential increases in neural activity (p < .001, uncorrected) in the superior parietal cortex bilaterally, in the right parieto-occipital junction, in the right occipital-temporal junction (MT, V5), and in the left superior temporal gyrus. Increased neural activity common to imitation of meaningless and meaningful actions compared to action observation was observed in a network of areas known to be involved in imitation of actions including the primary sensorimotor cortex, the supplementary motor area, and the ventral premotor cortex. These results are compatible with the two-route model of action imitation which suggests that there are at least two mechanisms involved in imitation of actions: a direct mechanism transforming a novel action into a motor output, and a semantic mechanism, on the basis of stored memories, that allows reproductions of known actions. Our results indicate that, in addition to shared neural processes, the direct and the semantic mechanisms that underlie action imitation also draw upon differential neural mechanisms. The direct mechanism underlying imitation of meaningless actions differentially involves visuospatial transformation processes as evidenced by activation of areas belonging to the dorsal stream. In contrast, imitation of meaningful actions differentially involves semantic processing as evidenced by activation of areas belonging to the ventral stream.

Subdivisions of human parietal area 5 revealed by quantitative receptor autoradiography: a parietal region between motor, somatosensory, and cingulate cortical areas

Brodmann's area (BA) 5 of the human superior parietal cortex occupies a central anatomical position between the primary motor (BA 4), somatosensory (area 3b and BA 2), cingulate (area 23c), and superior parietal association cortex (BA 7). We studied the regional and laminar distributions of the binding sites of 12 different neurotransmitter receptors (glutamatergic: AMPA, kainate, NMDA; GABAergic: GABAA, GABAB; cholinergic: muscarinic M2, nicotinic; adrenergic: alpha1, alpha2; serotoninergic: 5-HT1A, 5-HT2; dopaminergic: D1) in human postmortem brains by means of quantitative receptor autoradiography, since the structural and functional aspects of human BA 5 are widely unknown, and previous observations have demonstrated characteristic differences in receptor distribution between motor and somatosensory areas. Binding site densities were measured in the cytoarchitectonically defined BA 5 and surrounding regions. Similarities and differences of receptor distribution between cortical areas were studied by cluster analysis of mean binding site densities averaged over all cortical layers, univariate and multivariate statistics, and by density profiles representing laminar receptor distribution patterns. Based on regional heterogeneities of binding site densities and of the cytoarchitecture within BA 5, we suggest a subdivision into three subareas: medial area 5M, lateral area 5L, and area 5Ci in the region around the cingulate sulcus. BA 5 is therefore a heterogeneous cortical region, comprising three subareas showing receptor expression patterns similar to the adjoining higher order somatosensory, multimodal parietal, or cingulate regions. These findings suggest that human BA 5 constitutes a higher order cortical area, clearly distinct from the primary somatosensory and motor cortex.

Transmitter receptors reveal segregation of cortical areas in the human superior parietal cortex: relations to visual and somatosensory regions

Regional distributions of ligand binding sites of 12 different neurotransmitter receptors (glutamatergic: AMPA, kainate, NMDA; GABAergic: GABA(A), GABA(B); cholinergic: muscarinic M2, nicotinic; adrenergic: alpha1, alpha2; serotonergic: 5-HT1A, 5-HT2; dopaminergic: D1) were studied in human postmortem brains by means of quantitative receptor autoradiography. Binding site densities were measured in the superior parietal lobule (SPL) (areas 5L, 5M, 5Ci, and different locations within Brodmann's area (BA) 7), somatosensory (BA 2), and visual cortical areas (BA 17, and different locations within BAs 18 and 19). Similarities of receptor distribution between cortical areas were analyzed by cluster analysis, uni- and multivariate statistics of mean receptor densities (averaged over all cortical layers), and profiles representing the laminar distribution patterns of receptors. A considerable heterogeneity of regional receptor densities and laminar patterns between the sites was found in the SPL and the visual cortex. The most prominent regional differences were found for M2 receptors. In the SPL, rostrocaudally oriented changes of receptor densities were more pronounced than those in mediolateral direction. The receptor distribution in the rostral SPL was more similar to that of the somatosensory cortex, whereas caudal SPL resembled the receptor patterns of the dorsolateral extrastriate visual areas. These results suggest a segregation of the different SPL areas based on receptor distribution features typical for somatosensory or visual areas, which fits to the dual functional role of this cortical region, i.e., the involvement of the human SPL in visuomotor and somatosensory motor transformations.