GABA and Glutamate in hMT+ Link to Individual Differences in Residual Visual Function After Occipital Stroke

Author:

Willis Hanna E.1ORCID,Ip I. Betina1ORCID,Watt Archie1ORCID,Campbell Jon1ORCID,Jbabdi Saad1,Clarke William T.1ORCID,Cavanaugh Matthew R.2ORCID,Huxlin Krystel R.2ORCID,Watkins Kate E.3ORCID,Tamietto Marco45,Bridge Holly1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (H.E.W., I.B.I., A.W., J.C., S.J., W.T.C., H.B.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom.

2. Flaum Eye Institute and Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, NY (M.R.C., K.R.H.).

3. Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Department of Experimental Psychology (K.E.W.), University of Oxford, United Kingdom.

4. Department of Psychology, University of Torino, Italy (M.T.).

5. Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, and CoRPS—Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic Diseases—Tilburg University, the Netherlands (M.T.).

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Damage to the primary visual cortex following an occipital stroke causes loss of conscious vision in the contralateral hemifield. Yet, some patients retain the ability to detect moving visual stimuli within their blind field. The present study asked whether such individual differences in blind field perception following loss of primary visual cortex could be explained by the concentration of neurotransmitters γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate or activity of the visual motion processing, human middle temporal complex (hMT+). METHODS: We used magnetic resonance imaging in 19 patients with chronic occipital stroke to measure the concentration of neurotransmitters GABA and glutamate (proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy) and functional activity in hMT+ (functional magnetic resonance imaging). We also tested each participant on a 2-interval forced choice detection task using high-contrast, moving Gabor patches. We then measured and assessed the strength of relationships between participants’ residual vision in their blind field and in vivo neurotransmitter concentrations, as well as visually evoked functional magnetic resonance imaging activity in their hMT+. Levels of GABA and glutamate were also measured in a sensorimotor region, which served as a control. RESULTS: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy-derived GABA and glutamate concentrations in hMT+ (but not sensorimotor cortex) strongly predicted blind-field visual detection abilities. Performance was inversely related to levels of both inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters in hMT+ but, surprisingly, did not correlate with visually evoked blood oxygenation level–dependent signal change in this motion-sensitive region. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of GABA and glutamate in hMT+ appear to provide superior information about motion detection capabilities inside perimetrically defined blind fields compared to blood oxygenation level–dependent signal changes—in essence, serving as biomarkers for the quality of residual visual processing in the blind-field. Whether they also reflect a potential for successful rehabilitation of visual function remains to be determined.

Publisher

Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)

Subject

Advanced and Specialized Nursing,Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine,Neurology (clinical)

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