Jun 30, 2026
Fallypride PET-MR Experimental Protocol (ver. 24-MAI-2020)
- Yeo-Jin Yi1,2
- 1Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND);
- 2German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE: site Magdeburg)
- PET-MR
Protocol Citation: Yeo-Jin Yi 2026. Fallypride PET-MR Experimental Protocol (ver. 24-MAI-2020). protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.yxmvm8myog3p/v1
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: March 10, 2026
Last Modified: June 30, 2026
Protocol Integer ID: 312984
Keywords: PET-MR, Fallypride, Senior subjects
Funders Acknowledgements:
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Grant ID: SFB1315 B06
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Abstract
Cognitive ageing involves progressive decline in episodic memory and dopaminergic function. Age-related decreases in D2/D3 receptor availability have been linked to deterioration across multiple cognitive domains, yet whether these associations reflect a uniform dopaminergic decline or regionally distinct trajectories with separable cognitive consequences remain underexplored. In this study, we investigated how baseline D2/D3 receptor availability (binding potential, BP) as well as estimated endogeneous dopamine release (∆BP) in key dopaminergic pathways relates to memory performance modulated by motivational salience in healthy seniors. Thirty-three healthy seniors (aged 64-85) underwent two sessions of concurrent PET-MR imaging with [¹⁸F]fallypride involving a scene categorisation task with varying motivational contexts. We quantified BP across nine dopaminergically modulated regions of interest and examined their relationships with recognition memory performance at short (~15 minutes) and long (>24 hours) delays.
Guidelines
In this study, all test subjects were recruited through the German center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
memory clinic database and local advertisements. Exclusion criteria included psychiatric or neurological disorders, psychoactive medication use, or contraindications for PET or MRI. All participants demonstrated normal cognition (MMSE27>=26) and minimal depressive symptoms (BDI28<15). Written informed consent was obtained >=48 hours prior to tracer application. The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee and the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS). If you intend to use this protocol for experiments with human subjects, please obtain official approval from ethics committee of your institution and acquire informed consent from the subjects at least 48 hours prior to the experiment.
Before start
Explain the risks and overall procedues of the experiment thoroughly to the subjects and acquire signatures on the informed consent approved by the ethics committee of your institution prior to the experiment.
Day 1 (PET-MR + Immediate Memory Test)
Experimenter arrives at DZNE.
Record details of today’s experiment: Counterbalancing Index / Reward Scheme / Visit
Collect participant compensation from Room 502.
Prepare instruction sheet, daily sleep quality questionnaire, consent form, and collect USB stick.
Participant arrives. Follow hygiene regulations: wear face mask and disinfect the area.
MRI instruction/check by MTRA.
(Only two people allowed in the room including participant.) Either experimenter or MTRA gives instructions; others must leave. Explain full procedure and complete all questionnaires/forms. Refer to overview sheet. Do NOT specifically mention the memory test. (During second visit, instruct them not to memorise the scenes deliberately.)
Participant completes two practice tasks. Ensure they undrstand both reward schemes (buttons are 1 and 2).
Participant changes clothes.
Take blood samples (5 ml × 2).If second participant of the day, one VL delivers samples to:
AG (House 21) - Sample #1
MS / Central Lab (House 39) - Sample #2
PET instruction/check by nuclear medicine physician.
Prepare pulse oximeter and breathing belt; position participant.
Participant positioned wearing face mask. Hands disinfected before positioning. Staff gloves disposed after positioning, then hands disinfected. Mask may be removed when operating the system.
Perform first MRI scan (localiser).
Start PET (MRAC) acquisition. Record start time.
Nuclear medicine physician enters room. Tracer injection starts 1 minute after PET inflow begins. Start timer and PET sequence simultaneously; signal injection after 1 minute.
Record tracer injection time and MBq. Calculate timing of second PET task start.
Nuclear medicine physician leaves. MRI acquisition continues.
Toilet break (measure blood pressure on MRI table). If participant leaves scanner during 30-minute break:
Staff must wear mask and gloves. Participant must put mask back on immediately after sitting up.
Reposition participant.
PET baseline: start sequence exactly 95 minutes after injection. If delayed, take note of the reason for delay and record the actual start time.
Baseline PET and MPRAGE performed (9 minutes).
fMRI measurement (PET task) starts 115 minutes after injection with reward task. If delayed, take note of the reason for delay and record the actual start time.
Transfer behavioural data via USB stick (folder “daten”) to study laptop.(.mat file placed in folder “transmat”; desktop shortcut available)
Immediately after the scan, participant performs memory test in the preparation room. Both participant and experimenter must wear masks. Maintain 2-metre distance during instructions.
Load memory test instruction on laptop and run MATLAB script (runImmediateMemoryTest_MRPET.m) using F5. Do NOT close the laptop once task starts.
Give USB stick to MTRA or physician.
Re-instruct participant for immediate memory test to make sure they understand the task and button presses.
Participant completes immediate memory test.
Remind participant of next-day appointment and give cash compensation.
Participant leaves.
Transfer memory test data to USB stick from:Desktop → MRPET → raw → behav → *.mat (latest file)
Day 2 (24-hour Delay Memory Test + Covariates)
Experimenter arrives at DZNE. Prepare consent form, questionnaire, covariate tests (with stopwatch), and collect compensation.
Participants returns to DZNE 24 hours after the end of the Reward Task (learning/encoding phase).
Transfer previous day’s memory test data to: Desktop → MRPET → raw → behav → *.mat (overwrite
if necessary)
Turn on Presentation and Eyetracker host computer.
Escort participant to Room 209.
Participant signs consent form.
Instruct participant about long-delay memory test and (afterwards) Go/No-Go task (only
Visit 1).
Participant completes delayed memory test (with eyetracker).
Complete covariate tests
Only Visit 1:
- Go/No-Go task (without Eyetracker)
- Raven's matrices (Max 20 minutes)
- PSQI
Only Visit 2:
- CERAD
- Beck's Depression Inventory (Do this the very last)
If this is Visit 1, remind participant of next appointment and give compensation.
Participant leaves.