title: The effects of venlafaxine on cortical motor area activity in healthy subjects: a pilot study.
abstract: In the study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging associated with behavioral assessment to observe the effects of venlafaxine on the modulation of human motor cortex activation and to provide preliminary data for further assessing its influence on motor functional reorganization after stroke injury. In a randomized, double-blind, crossover study, 8 right-handed subjects received 75 mg of either venlafaxine or a placebo daily over a period of 7 days separated by 3 washout days. The volunteers were asked to execute motor tasks, which included the dynamometer and finger-tapping test. In addition, laboratory tests and functional magnetic resonance imaging examination, before the start of the experiment and after administration of placebo and venlafaxine, were performed. It was shown that the finger-tapping rate of each hand in the venlafaxine stage was significantly improved compared with that observed in the placebo stage (n = 8, F left hand = 57.69, F right hand = 184.48, P < 0.001). The changes in the recorded grip strengths of both hands were not significant between the stages (n = 8, F = 2.63, P > 0.05). In the venlafaxine stage, the activations of the contralateral primary sensorimotor cortex, contralateral premotor cortex, and contralateral supplementary motor area were enhanced significantly, whereas the activation of the bilateral parietal cortices was decreased when compared with the placebo stage. Meanwhile, the enhancement of contralateral primary sensorimotor cortex activation had a positive correlation with the improvement of the finger-tapping rate. It was concluded that venlafaxine could modulate the cortical excitability and improve finger dexterity and reaction speed, which greatly related to the increase of contralateral motor cortical excitability.
authors: From the Departments of *Neurology, †MRI Center, and ‡Rehabilitation Medicine, General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors: Chun-yong
authors: CY
authors: Li
authors: Xue-zhu
authors: XZ
authors: Song
authors: Li-xin
authors: LX
authors: Han
authors: Qi
authors: Q
authors: Xie
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Ying-kai
authors: YK
authors: Li
authors: Fu-da
authors: FD
authors: Liu
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000187:drug effects*; D002681:China; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D007839:Functional Laterality; D018737:Hand Strength; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
chemical_list: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride