Lactate rise in the basal ganglia accompanying finger movements: a localized 1H-MRS study.

To investigate whether motor activation can cause lactate elevation, we observed the metabolic changes in seven right-handed volunteers by localized 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The volume of interest (VOI) was centered on a region including portions of the putamen and globus pallidus. Finger opposition movements were applied as the motor tasks. On the side contralateral to the finger movements, lactate rose in all subjects. No lactate rise occurred in basal ganglia ipsilateral to the movements.