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Content archived on 2024-06-18

Routes to arousal: a simultaneous EEG-FMRI investigation of pharmacological sedation in humans

Objective

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging studies have progressed from identifying areas of the brain involved in a given task to investigating the temporal correlation or ‘functional connectivity’ between signals from different brain regions. This permits spatial and temporal characterisation of cortical and subcortical functional circuits during the execution of tasks and at rest. Combining information from simultaneous EEG and FMRI measurements affords a still finer physiological fractionation of brain networks. Our main aim is to use simultaneous EEG-FMRI to examine altered functional connectivity during pharmacologically altered arousal in healthy human volunteers. We will focus on thalamo-cortical networks (TCN) and default mode network (DMN), both hypothesized to be involved in alterations in consciousness or arousal. A variety of neurochemical routes lead to reduced arousal. General anaesthetics may act through ligand-gated ion channels of the GABAA and NMDA receptors. In particular, GABAergic cells of the reticular thalamic nucleus may modulate cortical activity. Because vigilance decrements correlate with decreased blood flow in the medial thalamus, and because this reduction significantly covaries with parallel decreases in regions belonging to the DMN, we will study the possible progressive disconnections within each network (TCN and DMN) induced by light sedation (propofol), and the disruption of between-network connectivity. The use of simultaneous EEG to restrict our examination of drug effects in FMRI to those of neuronal origin will provide a robust tool with which to investigate anaesthetic action (reduced arousal) in these networks. By using time-series analysis techniques (phase slope index) we aim to further assess the dynamic changes induced by sedation in the direction of information flow among the nodes of these brain networks. This will improve our understanding of pharmacologically induced sedation at the system-level in the human brain.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Call for proposal

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FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF
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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)

Coordinator

CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
EU contribution
€ 181 103,20
Address
RESEARCH SERVICES C/O MAIN BUILDING
CF10 3AT CARDIFF
United Kingdom

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Region
Wales East Wales Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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