Research staff
Dr. I. Burgos Guerrero, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hegerl, PD Dr. P. Schönknecht, S. Olbrich, C. Sander, K. Nägler
Cooperation partner
Prof. Dr. med. Osama Sabri (Departmentof Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Centre Leipzig)
Finance
University of Leipzig, Medical Faculty, unit research finance within the internal sponsoring (formula-1-program)
Aim
In the present study it is to be determined if there is a correlation between the nAChR-availability in subcortical, vigilance regulating structures and the stability of vigilance regulation. Our hypothesis posits that a higher neurotransmission of nicotin is associated with a better stability of vigilance. Previous studies engaged that the neurotransmission of nicotine in active smokers is enhanced compared to non-smokers or abstinent smokers. The nAChR-availability is maybe correlated to a enhanced stability of vigilance in active smokers.
Questions
- How does the EEG resp. the EEG-vigilance-dynamic changes after nicotine deprivation?
- How does the nAChR-availability changes before and after nicotine deprivation?
- Is a correlation between changes of vigilance regulation resp. nAChR-availability existing? And if so, in which brain area?
Methodology
The individual nAChR-availability can be detected by PET during the course of a day using the ligand 2-[18F]A-85380, which was clinically established in the task force of Prof. Sabri. The fluctuations of vigilance can be engaged with parallel EEG-deduction. Thus, both methods (at a simultaneous measurement) are able to engage individual and dynamic parameters of the availability of the receptors and also of the dynamic of vigilance. On this account in the submitted study an EEG is to be recording at the same time during PET-measurement.
In probands with nicotine drug dependency is to be examinated, how nAChR-availability and at the same time vigilance regulation changes under habitual smoking behaviour and after 24-hour nicotine deprivation.
