Spatial Reorganization of Putaminal Dopamine D2-Like Receptors in Cranial

Matched coronal sections from the MP-RAGE (top) and late image (bottom) for one subject.

The lines in each image cross at the location of peak putaminal [18F]spiperone binding in this subject.  

Coronal view of peak [18F]spiperone binding in striatum in cranial and hand dystonia.

The location of peak [18F]spiperone binding in striatum is plotted for each dystonic subject by atlas |x| and z coordinates according to which part of the body is affected by dystonia. On average, the peak was 2.1 mm more superior in the hand cramp group (red triangles) than in the group with dystonia affecting the face (blue circles). The mean location for each dystonia group is indicated by a plus sign; note that the mean (and median) cranial dystonia peak lies inferior to every hand cramp peak. The three left-handed subjects are indicated by dashed symbols. The large black lines intersect at the mean peak location for the control group.   

Peak putaminal [18F]spiperone binding does not vary significantly with age.

The location of peak [18F]spiperone binding in striatum (atlas z coordinate) is graphed versus age, for a group of normal volunteers. There is no meaningful correlation of this measure with age, and the line that best fits the data has a nearly flat slope