BACKGROUND:Encephalofluctuograph Technology(ET) is an advanced and non-traumatic analytical method of brain function.ET can acquire super-slow waves from electroencephalic signals.Studies have shown that these particular spectra can reflect neurochemical processes in the brain.OBJECTIVE:To verify neurotransmitter changes in the brains Parkinson’s disease(PD) patients through the use of ET.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:A non-randomized concurrent control experiment was performed at the Department of Neurology in Southern Building,General Hospital of Chinese PLA from August to December 2007.PARTICIPANTS:Sixty-one outpatients with PD were selected from the General Hospital of Chinese PLA from August 2007 to December 2007.In addition,48 healthy subjects were selected as normal controls.METHODS:All patients underwent assessment of the sub scale Ⅱ,Ⅲ,and V of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale(UPDRS),in which part Ⅱ was used to inform activity of daily living,part Ⅲ reflected athletic ability,and part Ⅴ was the Hoehn & Yahr grade for symptoms evaluation.Correlation analysis was performed between dopamine levels and UPDRS assessment.Neurotransmitter changes were observed forty-eight prior to and 1.5 hours after medicating with Benserazide.The S1,S2,S4,S5,S7,and S11 spectras respectively reflect gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA),glutamic acid(Glu),5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),acetylcholine(ACh),norepinephrine,and dopamine.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Neurotransmitter changes in the brains of all subjects,and correlations between dopamine concentrations and UPDRS assessment.Neurotransmitter changes in a subgroup of patients prior to and 1.5 hours after medicating with Benserazide.RESULTS:Concentrations of 5-HT,ACh,and norepinephrine were decreased in the PD group,and GABA was increased.However,there was no significant difference compared with the normal control group(P > 0.05).The level of dopamine in PD group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P < 0.01).Dopamine concentrations in PD patients negatively correlated with UPDRS scores and the Hoehn &Yahr grade range(r = -0.4601,-0.4301,P < 0.01).Dopamine levels increased significantly in PD patients 1.5 hours after medicating with Benserazide compared with before(P < 0.01).CONCLUSION:Detection by ET demonstrated that dopamine concentrations were significantly decreased in the brains of PD patients,as well as played a role in the course of pathogenesis and therapy.These results provided useful information for future non-traumatic of PD. BACKGROUND: Encephalofluctuograph Technology (ET) is an advanced and non-traumatic analytical method of brain function. ET can acquire super-slow waves from electroencephalic signals. Studies have shown that these particular spectra can reflect neurochemical processes in the brain. OBJECTIVE: To verify The neurotransmitter changes in the brains Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients through the use of ET. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A non-randomized concurrent control experiment was performed at the Department of Neurology in Southern Building, General Hospital of Chinese PLA from August to December 2007. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-one outpatients with PD were selected from the General Hospital of Chinese PLA from August 2007 to December 2007. In addition, 48 healthy subjects were selected as normal controls. METHODS: All patients underwent assessment of the sub scale II, III, and V of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), in which part II was used to inform activity of daily living, part III reflected athl etic ability, and part V was the Hoehn & Yahr grade for symptoms evaluation. Correlation analysis was performed between dopamine levels and UPDRS assessment. Neurotransmitter changes were observed forty-eight prior to and 1.5 hours after medicating with Benserazide. The S1, S2, S4 , S5, S7, and S11 spectes respectively reflect gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamic acid (Glu), 5- hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), acetylcholine (ACh), norepinephrine, and dopamine. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neurotransmitter changes in the brains of all subjects, and correlations between dopamine concentrations and UPDRS assessment. Neurotransmitter changes in a subgroup of patients prior to and 1.5 hours after medicating with Benserazide. RESULTS: Concentrations of 5-HT, ACh, and norepinephrine were decreased in the PD group , and GABA was increased. However, there was no significant difference compared with the normal control group (P> 0.05). The level of dopamine in PD group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P <0.01) .D opamine coConcentrations in PD patients negatively correlated with UPDRS scores and the Hoehn & Yahr grade range (r = -0.4601, -0.4301, P <0.01) .Dopamine levels increased significantly in PD patients for 1.5 hours after medicating with Benserazide compared with before (P <0.01) . CONCLUSION: Detection by ET demonstrated that dopamine concentrations were significantly decreased in the brains of PD patients, as well as played a role in the course of pathogenesis and therapy. These results provided useful information for future non-traumatic of PD.