Task Activation of Human Occipital Lobe Results in Hyperpolarized 13C-Lactate Signal Increase

Motivation: Increases in lactate production are believed to occur in occipital lobe regions in response to visual stimuli. Goal(s): In this study, whole-brain hyperpolarized-13C MRI was used to investigate how a visual stimulus affects occipital lobe 13C-lactate signal in healthy human volunteers. Approach: A set of two hyperpolarized-13C MRI scans were done. Participants (n = 6) viewed a flashing checkerboard stimulus during one of the 13C scans, and had their eyes closed for the second 13C scan. Results: Increased 13C-lactate signal was observed in the visual stimulus scans when compared to the eyes-closed scans in occipital lobe regions relative to non-occipital lobe regions. Impact: We have shown that hyperpolarized-13C MRI is capable of measuring differences in 13C-lactate signal in response to a visual stimuli. These findings support the idea of increases in lactate production in response to stimulus. Future studies will explore other stimuli.