Gender differences in limbic responsiveness, by SPECT, following a pharmacologic challenge in healthy subjects.

Limbic system functioning is integral to the control and modulation of affect, motivation, reward, and memory. Neuropsychiatric disturbances involving disruptions in these cognitive and emotional dimensions exhibit different prevalence rates for men and women. Gender-specific differences in this integrated brain area may therefore be important in understanding both normal behavioral functioning and the etiologic underpinnings of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Dose-response measures of rCBF and subjective changes following procaine in healthy female volunteers.

The intravenous administration of procaine shows relatively specific activation of limbic structures. Several investigators have utilized this property of procaine to probe limbic system dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders. The dose of procaine utilized in human studies varies significantly, however, and the optimal dose of procaine as a limbic probe has not been demonstrated.