Interregional correlations of glucose metabolism between the basal ganglia and different cortical areas: an ultra-high resolution PET/MRI fusion study using 18F-FDG

Basal ganglia have complex functional connections with the cerebral cortex and are involved in motor control, executive functions of the forebrain, such as the planning of movement, and cognitive behaviors based on their connections. The aim of this study was to provide detailed functional correlation patterns between the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex by conducting an interregional correlation analysis of the 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) data based on precise structural information. Fifteen participants were scanned with 7-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and high resolution research tomography (HRRT)-PET fusion system using 18F-FDG. For detailed interregional correlation analysis, 24 subregions of the basal ganglia including pre-commissural dorsal caudate, post-commissural caudate, pre-commissural dorsal putamen, post-commissural putamen, internal globus pallidus, and external globus pallidus and 80 cerebral regions were selected as regions of interest on the MRI image and their glucose metabolism were calculated from the PET images. Pearson's product-moment correlation analysis was conducted for the interregional correlation analysis of the basal ganglia. Functional correlation patterns between the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex were not only consistent with the findings of previous studies, but also showed new functional correlation between the dorsal striatum (i.e., caudate nucleus and putamen) and insula. In this study, we established the detailed basal ganglia subregional functional correlation patterns using 18F-FDG PET/MRI fusion imaging. Our methods and results could potentially be an important resource for investigating basal ganglia dysfunction as well as for conducting functional studies in the context of movement and psychiatric disorders.基底神经节（basal ganglia）与大脑皮层（cerebral cortex）存在复杂的功能连接，其通过这些连接参与运动控制、前脑执行功能（如运动规划）以及认知行为。本研究旨在基于精准的结构信息，对18F-氟脱氧葡萄糖（18F-fluorodeoxyglucose）正电子发射断层扫描（positron emission tomography, PET）数据进行脑区间相关性分析，以此揭示基底神经节与大脑皮层间的详细功能关联模式。本研究共纳入15名受试者，采用7特斯拉磁共振成像（magnetic resonance imaging, MRI）与高分辨率研究型断层扫描（high resolution research tomography, HRRT）-PET融合系统采集18F-FDG成像数据。为开展精细化脑区间相关性分析，研究人员在MRI图像中选取了24个基底神经节亚区（包括连合前背侧尾状核、连合后尾状核、连合前背侧壳核、连合后壳核、内侧苍白球及外侧苍白球）与80个大脑皮层区域作为感兴趣区，并从PET图像中计算这些区域的葡萄糖代谢水平。本研究采用皮尔逊积矩相关分析（Pearson's product-moment correlation analysis）完成基底神经节的脑区间相关性分析。研究所得的基底神经节与大脑皮层间功能关联模式，不仅与既往研究结果一致，还揭示了背侧纹状体（dorsal striatum，即尾状核与壳核）与脑岛（insula）间的全新功能关联。本研究通过18F-FDG PET/MRI融合成像构建了精细化的基底神经节亚区功能关联图谱。本研究的方法与结果可为探索基底神经节功能障碍，以及开展运动障碍与精神疾病相关的功能研究提供重要的参考资源。