18F-FDG PET mapping of regional brain activity in runners.
BACKGROUND
To examine regional metabolic changes in the human brain induced by free running in upright posture. METHODS.


METHODS
Regional brain changes in glucose uptake induced by running were examined by comparing brain images obtained by positron emission tomography (PET) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG).


METHODS
The study was conducted at a research institute and involved participation of healthy young volunteers. Data sampling and analysis required special imaging device and special computer hardware/software.


METHODS
Subjects were 17 healthy male volunteers. They were divided at random into two equal groups, those who ran 4-5 km and the others sat in the room.


METHODS
differences in regional cerebral glucose uptake between runners and control groups were assessed statistically. Plasma glucose level was also measured and global cerebral uptake was estimated.


RESULTS
Running was associated with a relative increase of glucose uptake in the temporoparietal association cortex, occipital cortex, premotor cortex and the cerebellar vermis. The highest activity was noted in the temporoparietal association cortex. Activity of the primary sensorimotor cortex was higher in the superomedial part (leg motor area) than the lateral part (thorax and arm).


CONCLUSIONS
Running augmented energy consumption in the parieto-occipital region relative to the motor area, probably due to the higher energy consumption necessary for integration of multimodal sensory information than for generation of motor output. Our results indicate that FDG PET is a useful tool for brain mapping under various physiological conditions.
Tashiro
M
M
Division of Nuclear Medicine, Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan. tashiro@cyric.tohoku.ac.jp
Itoh
M
M
Fujimoto
T
T
Fujiwara
T
T
Ota
H
H
Kubota
K
K
Higuchi
M
M
Okamura
N
N
Ishii
K
K
Bereczki
D
D
Sasaki
H
H
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000378:metabolism; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18