Amygdala-stimulation-induced apnea is attention and nasal breathing dependent
Nobis WP, Schuele S, Templer JW, et al. (2018) Amygdala-stimulation-induced apnea is attention and nasal breathing dependent. Ann Neurol. 2018 Mar;83(3):460-471.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Evidence suggests that disordered breathing is critically involved in Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). To that end, evaluating structures that are activated by seizures and can activate brain regions that produce cardiorespiratory changes can further our understanding of the pathophysiology of SUDEP. Past preclinical studies have shown that electrical stimulation of the human amygdala induces apnea, suggesting a role for the amygdala in controlling respiration. In this study, we aimed to both confirm these findings in a larger group of patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and also further explore the anatomical and cognitive properties of this effect. METHODS: Seven surgical TLE patients had depth electrodes implanted in the amygdala that were used to deliver electrical stimulation during functional mapping preceding resection. Real-time respiratory monitoring was performed in each patient to confirm apnea. RESULTS: Our data confirm that amygdala stimulation reliably induces apnea (occurring in all 7 patients) and further suggest that apnea can be overcome by instructing the patient to inhale, and can be prevented entirely by breathing through the mouth before electrical stimulation. Finally, stimulation-induced apnea occurred only when stimulating the medial-most amygdalar contacts located in the central nucleus. INTERPRETATION: These findings confirm a functional connection between the amygdala and respiratory control in humans. Moreover, they suggest specific amygdalar nuclei may be critical in mediating this effect and that attentional state is critical to apnea mediated by amygdala activation-perhaps alluding to future development of strategies for the prevention of SUDEP. Ann Neurol 2018;83:460-471.
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Interesting study of seven patients which found that stimulation of the central nucleus induces apnea, the apnea ends if the patient is instructed to breath, and the apnea is prevented if the patient breathes by mouth before the stimulation. Discussion of these findings in the context of other research on amygdala is at the page Zhang et al., 1986.