The contrast in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is largely due to the chemical environment of the water molecules. The T1 and T2 relaxation times are measurements of energy dissipation which change based on a molecule’s environment. MRI scans of patients with schizophrenia have shown significant changes within the patient’s temporal lobe. Studies have shown a physiological correlation between many psychological conditions and concentrations of specific neurotransmitters. One neurotransmitter largely associated with this lobe is aminobutyric acid (GABA). Aqueous solutions of GABA and its precursor, glutamate, were analyzed at varying concentrations to determine the correlation between T1 and T2 relaxation times and the concentration of each. The results showed that as concentration increased, the T1 and T2 times of both GABA and glutamate decrease. However, significant differences in the T1 and T2 times of GABA and its precursor have been observed. Research investigating how the relaxation times of the components of GABA, glutamate and CO2, correlate to GABA’s T1 and T2 times. The results will be reported.

NMR analysis of T1 and T2 relaxation times of aqueous solutions of GABA and glutamate

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