Parcellation of the Human Cerebral Cortex Based on Molecular Targets in the Serotonin System Quantified by Positron Emission Tomography In vivo
Cerebral Cortex September 6, 2018 Gregory M. James, Gregor Gryglewski, Thomas Vanicek et al. 16 citations
The cerebral cortex can be divided into distinct areas based on the density of proteins involved in the serotonin system. Using positron emission tomography in healthy participants, the study quantified serotonin 1A receptors (n = 30), 5-HT2A receptors (n = 22), the serotonin-degrading enzyme monoamine oxidase A (n = 32), and the serotonin transporter (n = 24). Clustering analysis identified five optimal clusters of cortical regions defined by these molecular profiles. These clusters explained the effects of psychotropic drugs acting on serotonin, such as antidepressants and psychedelics, suggesting the method is useful for integrating multimodal imaging data in neuropharmacology and psychiatry.