Case in Neuroimaging
Neurotransmitters and brain networks
Psychiatric disorders affect nearly 1 billion people worldwide and are now recognized as network disorders, where symptoms arise from disruptions in brain-wide functional connectivity rather than isolated abnormalities in specific regions. Treatments like pharmacotherapy and neuromodulation aim to restore these disruptions, yet their effectiveness remains inconsistent, with high rates of treatment resistance and significant side effects. Therefore, Dr. Anouk Schrantee’s new Vidi project will investigate the role of neurotransmitters in shaping these functional brain networks and driving treatment effects.
To this end, the project will 1) characterize neurotransmitter-connectivity interactions using a combination of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI), functional MRS and functional MRI data that will be obtained using ultra-high field 7T MRI; 2) assess changes in these interactions following perturbations with treatment neuromodulatory and pharmacological challenges; and finally, 3) map how these chemicals shape brain connections in healthy individuals and those with conditions like ADHD, OCD, and depression.
This project is funded by the ZonMW Vidi grant awarded to Dr. Anouk Schrantee. By understanding how medications and brain stimulation treatments affect these chemical networks, the project aims to contribute to more precise and personalized mental health treatments.