Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012 Apr;27 Suppl 3:49-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2012.07072.x.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a useful technology for investigating regional metabolic activity in the brain. Many experiments using fMRI have been performed, but because of variations in protocols and analytic techniques, the results vary. When a priori information of the task is known, a model-based technique, such as statistical parametric mapping, is often used for analysis. In the case of acid stimulation of the esophagus the task model is unclear, so we analyzed brain activity during an acid or isotonic saline infusion to the esophagus using independent component analysis (ICA), which does not depend on a priori information of the task.
Six healthy male volunteers (29-45 years) participated in the study. A multi-lumen catheter was inserted transnasally and side-hole infusions ports were approximately 15 cm proximal to the lower esophageal sphincter. The experimental protocol was 5-min interval, 5-min saline infusion, 5-min interval, 5-min 0.1 N HCl, and a final 5-min interval. After magnetic resonance scanning, fMRI image data were analyzed using group ICA.
The cerebral regions activated during the first interval, saline infusion, and HCl infusion were the thalamus, insula, cingulate gyri, temporal pole and some parts of the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes. Activation of the postcentral and precentral gyri occurred during both infusions, but was not observed during the first interval.
ICA, which can show the cerebral areas activated in relation to liquid in the esophagus, may be a powerful technique for studying the brain's response to visceral stimulation.
功能磁共振成像（fMRI）是一种用于研究大脑区域代谢活动的有用技术。已经进行了许多 fMRI 实验，但由于方案和分析技术的变化，结果也有所不同。当预先知道任务的信息时，通常使用基于模型的技术，如统计参数映射进行分析。在食管酸刺激的情况下，任务模型不清楚，因此我们使用独立成分分析（ICA）分析食管酸或等渗盐水输注期间的大脑活动，该方法不依赖于任务的先验信息。
6 名健康男性志愿者（29-45 岁）参加了这项研究。经鼻插入多腔导管，侧孔输注端口位于食管下括约肌近端约 15cm 处。实验方案为 5 分钟间隔，5 分钟生理盐水输注，5 分钟间隔，5 分钟 0.1N HCl，最后 5 分钟间隔。磁共振扫描后，使用组 ICA 分析 fMRI 图像数据。
在第一个间隔、盐水输注和 HCl 输注期间激活的大脑区域为丘脑、脑岛、扣带回、颞极以及额叶、顶叶、颞叶和枕叶的某些部分。在两次输注期间均激活了中央后回和中央前回，但在第一个间隔期间未观察到。
ICA 可以显示与食管内液体相关的激活脑区，可能是研究大脑对内脏刺激反应的有力技术。
