Neural Mechanisms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Abstract

Abstract : Nearly one million Americans suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). More than 15% of Gulf War veterans (GWV) were found to have CFS. The disease significantly reduces work production of civilian patients and combat ability/readiness of US military forces. Increasing scientific evidence suggests that CFS is a biological illness involving pathology of the central nervous system (CNS). However, little is known about how the CNS is affected by CFS. This study will focus on evaluating brain activities of CFS patients during fatigue and non-fatigue muscle exercises. Our hypothesis is that the brain activation pattern in CFS differs from that of healthy controls. Aim 1 of the study is to determine brain activation patterns during motor activity in CFS patients using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Aim 2 is to examine brain activation patterns during motor activity in CFS patients by analyzing signals of electroencephalograms. Aim 3 is to evaluate signal relationships among different brain regions and between the brain and muscle. Measurements will be made from four groups of participants: a civilian CFS group, a civilian control group, a GWV CFS group, and a GWV control group. We expect that the study will provide objective information for diagnosis of CFS.