Background
In view of conflicting neuroimaging results regarding autonomic-specific activity
within the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), we investigated autonomic responses to
direct brain stimulation during stereotactic limbic surgery.
Methods
Skin conductance activity and accelerative heart rate responses to multi-voltage stimulation
of the ACC (n = 7) and paralimbic subcaudate (n = 5) regions were recorded during bilateral anterior cingulotomy and bilateral subcaudate
tractotomy (in patients that had previously received an adequate lesion in the ACC),
respectively.
Results
Stimulations in both groups were accompanied by increased autonomic arousal. Skin
conductance activity was significantly increased during ACC stimulations compared
with paralimbic targets at 2 V (2.34 ± .68 [score in microSiemens ± SE] vs. .34 ±
.09, p = .013) and 3 V (3.52 ± .86 vs. 1.12 ± .37, p = .036), exhibiting a strong “voltage-response” relationship between stimulus magnitude
and response amplitude (difference from 1 to 3 V = 1.15 ± .90 vs. 3.52 ± .86, p = .041). Heart rate response was less indicative of between-group differences.
Conclusions
This is the first study of its kind aiming at seeking novel insights into the mechanisms
responsible for central autonomic modulation. It supports a concept that interregional
interactions account for the coordination of autonomic arousal.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 22, 2009
Accepted:
May 8,
2009
Received in revised form:
April 13,
2009
Received:
January 27,
2009
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
