7T MRS Study Sheds Light on the Relationship Between Metabolites in the Posterior Cingulate Cortex and Attention
M. Collée, R. Rajkumar, E. Farrher, J. Hagen, S. Ramkiran, G. J. Schnellbächer, N. Khudeish, N. J. Shah, T. Veselinović and I. Neuner
24th July 2024
Using 7 Tesla magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), a new study conducted by INM-4 researchers has investigated how certain metabolites in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) influence attention. This research aimed to understand the role of myo-inositol (Myo-Ins), glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), aspartate (Asp), and gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) on attentional performance in 46 healthy participants.
The study utilised MRS to measure concentrations of these metabolites and then assessed cognitive performance through a series of tests, including the trail-making test (TMT A/B) and the test of attentional performance. Results indicated that Myo-Ins positively affects attention, with higher levels associated with faster completion times on TMT tasks, suggesting improved processing speed and mental flexibility. Conversely, increased aspartate was linked to more errors in Go/No-go tasks, indicating a potential impairment in cognitive control. No significant effects on attention were found for glutamate, glutamine, or GABA. These findings suggest that Myo-Ins may enhance visual search and cognitive flexibility, while aspartate might be related to poorer attentional control.
The study provides new insights into how these metabolites influence cognitive functions, though further research is needed to clarify their mechanisms and implications for attention.
Original publication: Predicting performance in attention by measuring key metabolites in the PCC with 7T MRS