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Review
. 2017 Jul 11:8:123.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00123. eCollection 2017.

Ultra-High-Field Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Psychiatry

Beata R Godlewska  1 , Stuart Clare  2 , Philip J Cowen  1 , Uzay E Emir  2
Affiliations
Review

Ultra-High-Field Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Psychiatry

Beata R Godlewska et al. Front Psychiatry. .

Abstract

The advantages of ultra-high-field (UHF ≥ 7T) MR have been demonstrated in a variety of MR acquisition modalities. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can particularly benefit from substantial gains in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and spectral resolution at UHF, enabling the quantification of numerous metabolites, including glutamate, glutamine, glutathione, and γ-aminobutyric acid that are relevant to psychiatric disorders. The aim of this review is to give an overview about the advantages and advances of UHF MRS and its application to psychiatric disorders. In order to provide a practical guide for potential applications of MRS at UHF, a literature review is given, surveying advantages and disadvantages of MRS at UHF. Key concepts, emerging technologies, practical considerations, and applications of UHF MRS are provided. Second, the strength of UHF MRS is demonstrated using some examples of its application in psychiatric disorders.

Keywords: magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging; magnetic resonance spectroscopy; neurochemicals; psychiatric disorders; ultra-high-field.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
In vivo stimulated echo acquisition mode spectrum (volume of interest, 8 ml, TE = 6 ms, TR = 5 s and number of transients, 160) and LCModel fit, modeling metabolite contributions to the neurochemical profile. Model spectra for glycerophosphocholine, phosphocholine, creatine, phosphocreatine, γ-aminobutyric acid, glucose, glutamine, Glutamate, glutathione, lactate, myo-inositol, N-acetylaspartate, N-acetylaspartylglutamate, scyllo-inositol, and taurine were imported into LCModel (17) and used for spectroscopic quantification [reprint McKay and Tkác (18)].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Representative in vivo 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy spectra obtained in a healthy volunteer. All spectra obtained in one subject are shown (semi-LASER, TE = 28 ms at 3 T and TE = 26 ms at 7 T, TR = 5 s, 64 transients), with the four spectra obtained per brain region/field overlaid in each panel. The voxel locations are shown on the T1-weighted images [reprint Terpstra et al. (16)].
Figure 3
Figure 3
Simulated 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy spectra of glutamate and glutamine at a range of field strengths [reprint Tkác et al. (41)].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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