title: Functional subdivision of the human periaqueductal grey in respiratory control using 7 tesla fMRI.
abstract: The periaqueductal grey (PAG) is a nucleus within the midbrain, and evidence from animal models has identified its role in many homeostatic systems including respiration. Animal models have also demonstrated a columnar structure that subdivides the PAG into four columns on each side, and these subdivisions have different functions with regard to respiration. In this study we used ultra-high field functional MRI (7 T) to image the brainstem and superior cortical areas at high resolution (1mm(3)voxels), aiming to identify activation within the columns of the PAG associated with respiratory control. Our results showed deactivation in the lateral and dorsomedial columns of the PAG corresponding with short (~10s) breath holds, along with cortical activations consistent with previous respiratory imaging studies. These results demonstrate the involvement of the lateral and dorsomedial PAG in the network of conscious respiratory control for the first time in humans. This study also reveals the opportunities of 7 T functional MRI for non-invasively investigating human brainstem nuclei at high-resolutions.
authors.affiliation: FMRIB Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Nuffield Division of Anaesthetics, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. Electronic address: olivia.faull@ndcn.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Olivia K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Faull
authors.affiliation: FMRIB Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jenkinson
authors.affiliation: FMRIB Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clare
authors.affiliation: FMRIB Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Nuffield Division of Anaesthetics, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Kyle T S
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Pattinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010487:Periaqueductal Gray / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012119:Respiration; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Brainstem; Periaqueductal grey; Respiration; fMRI