A neuroanatomical construct for the amnesic effects of propofol Journal Article


Authors: Veselis, R. A.; Reinsel, R. A.; Feschenko, V. A.; Dnistrian, A. M.
Article Title: A neuroanatomical construct for the amnesic effects of propofol
Abstract: Background: This study was designed to identify neuroanatomical locations of propofol's effects on episodic memory by producing minimal and maximal memory impairment during conscious sedation. Drug-related changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were located in comparison with rCBF increases during a simple word memory task. Methods: Regional cerebral blood flow changes were assessed in 11 healthy volunteers using H 2 15O positron emission tomography (PET) and statistical parametric mapping (SPM99) at 600 and 1,000 ng/ml propofol target concentrations. Study groups were based on final recognition scores of auditory words memorized during PET scanning. rCBF changes during propofol administration were compared with those during the word memory task at baseline. Results: Nonoverlapping memory effects were evident: low (n = 4; propofol concentration 523 ± 138 ng/ml; 44 ± 13% decrement from baseline memory) and high (n = 7; 829 ± 246 ng/ml; 87 ± 6% decrement from baseline) groups differed in rCBF reductions primarily in right-sided prefrontal and parietal regions, close to areas activated in the baseline memory task, particularly R dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (Brodmann area 46; x, y, z = 51, 38, 22). The medial temporal lobe region exhibited relative rCBF increases. Conclusions: As amnesia becomes maximal, rCBF reductions induced by propofol occur in brain regions identified with working memory processes. In contrast, medial temporal lobe structures were resistant to the global CBF decrease associated with propofol sedation. The authors postulate that the episodic memory effect of propofol is produced by interference with distributed cortical processes necessary for normal memory function rather than specific effects on medial temporal lobe structures.
Keywords: adult; controlled study; clinical trial; positron emission tomography; controlled clinical trial; randomized controlled trial; propofol; brain; temporal lobe; hearing; memory; amnesia; brain blood flow; brain region; normal human; anesthetics, intravenous; human experiment; parietal lobe; tomography, emission-computed; conscious sedation; prefrontal cortex; neuroanatomy; dental anesthesia; humans; human; male; female; priority journal; article
Journal Title: Anesthesiology
Volume: 97
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0003-3022
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins  
Date Published: 2002-08-01
Start Page: 329
End Page: 337
Language: English
DOI: 10.1097/00000542-200208000-00008
PUBMED: 12151921
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 14 November 2014 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Robert A Veselis
    97 Veselis
  2. Ruth A Reinsel
    79 Reinsel