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Abstract #2171

Blood Oxygenation Level-Dependent Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Analysis of Functional Representation of Taste Information Processing in the Rat Brain

Ikuhiro Kida1, Yoshinobu Iguchi1, Yoko Hoshi1

1Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan

The neuronal mechanisms underlying taste discrimination and perception in cortical and subcortical regions remain unclear. We performed blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging at 7 T to clarify the neuronal network in the cortical and subcortical regions for taste discrimination. Sucrose and NaCl stimulation increased and decreased the BOLD signals, respectively, in the insular cortex and regions like the caudate-putamen and nucleus accumbens core. This suggests that the activated regions differed but overlapped for taste discrimination. The correlation between the signals in such regions may be related to positive and negative emotional and affective processes, including food preferences.

Keywords

activated activation affective agape agent agreement anatomical anesthetized animals anterior asymmetrical atlas aversion balance bars basis bilaterally blanket blood blue body bold brain broad carefully cavity circles circular clarify closed coil cold colored colors console core correlation cortex cortical critical decrease decreased delay dependent design designed dimension discrimination distilled employed encoding environment experiment extended fissure fixed food frequency functional gradient gustatory head heated held hemispheres holder horizontal identified include ingestion institute insular interfaced lateral limitations located magnet maintaining male materials matrix mechanisms mediating medical metropolitan middle minimize negative network networks neuronal nucleus nutrient open optical oral oxygenation papillae paradigms periphery pixel placing play polyethylene positive preferences preparation previous primary processes processing proper rats receive receives recently rejecting relationship relatively remain reported representation resolution respectively response responses rewards rinsed role slice solution spatial statistical statistically stimulated stimulation student studies sucrose sufficient surface switched syringe taste tastes tongue transmit tubes unclear water whereas