Detection and Evaluation of GABA Concentration in Anterior Cingulate Cortex and Occipital Cortex by MEGA-PRESS

Glutamate (Glu) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are very important neurotransmitters. They play critical roles in mental illness such as depression and schizophrenia. However, neurological bases and mechanisms of GABA for quantifying specific diseases or characterizing regional neural function remain poorly understood. In this study, MEGA-PRESS sequence was used to study the GABA concentration in brain regions of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and occipital cortex (OCC) from 14 healthy volunteers (7 females). The concentration of GABA+ in OCC was higher than that in ACC, revealing a region-specific feature (p = 0.001). An obvious linear regression was manifested between GM tissue ratio and GABA+ in OCC (correlation coefficient R²: 0.467, p<;0.001). No clear evidence was found about gender difference of GABA+ concentration.