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Yu Kyeong Kim

Seoul National University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Yu Kyeong Kim's research lab specializes in molecular imaging and neuroimaging, focusing on the neurobiological underpinnings of neurological and psychiatric disorders. The lab employs advanced PET and SPECT imaging techniques to investigate neurotransmitter systems—particularly GABAergic and glutamatergic pathways—across conditions such as epilepsy, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Key research directions include identifying neuroimaging biomarkers for epileptogenic foci, understanding the role of neurotransmitter receptor changes in motor recovery after stroke, and exploring neurodegenerative changes in visual pathways and neuropsychiatric symptoms. The lab integrates quantitative imaging with clinical outcomes to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

molecular imagingepilepsyGABA receptorsneurotransmitter systemsneurodegeneration

Research Overview

Papers
444
Total Citations
9,235
Papers (5y)
115
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
115total
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Citations per year (5y)
872total
20212022202320242025

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|144 citations·2002
(18)F-FDG PET in localization of frontal lobe epilepsy: comparison of visual and SPM analysis.
Yu Kyeong Kim, Dong Soo Lee, Sang Kun Lee, Chun Kee Chung, June‐Key Chung, Myung Chul Lee
FWCI 3.8PubMed

(18)F-FDG PET was sensitive in localizing epileptogenic zones by revealing hypometabolic areas in nonlesional patients with frontal lobe epilepsy as well as in lesional patients. SPM analysis showed a comparable sensitivity to visual assessment and could be used as an aid in diagnosing epileptogenic zones in frontal lobe epilepsy.

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine
2
Article|103 citations·2003
Differential features of metabolic abnormalities between medial and lateral temporal lobe epilepsy: quantitative analysis of (18)F-FDG PET using SPM.
Yu Kyeong Kim, Dong Soo Lee, Sang Kun Lee, Seok-Ki Kim, Chun Kee Chung, Ki Hyun Chang, Ki Young Choi, June‐Key Chung, Myung Chul Lee
FWCI 3.2PubMed

SPM analysis of (18)F-FDG PET in TLE patients could localize accurately the seizure focus and helped in the discrimination of the medial TLE from the lateral TLE. We suggest the lateral TLE, rather than the medial TLE, should be considered when glucose metabolism is relatively preserved in the medial temporal structures.

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine
3
Article|101 citations·2013
Cortical and white matter alterations in patients with neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury
Eun Jin Yoon, Yu Kyeong Kim, Hyung‐Ik Shin, Youngjo Lee, Sang Eun Kim
SJR Q2FWCI 3.7Brain Research
PhysiologyMedicine
4
Article|76 citations·2014
Functional Recovery After Ischemic Stroke Is Associated With Reduced GABAergic Inhibition in the Cerebral Cortex
Yu Kyeong Kim, Eun Joo Yang, Kyehee Cho, Jong Youb Lim, Nam‐Jong Paik
SJR Q1FWCI 4.8Neurorehabilitation and neural repair

During the follow-up period, statistical parametric mapping analysis demonstrated a decrease in GABAA receptor availability throughout the cerebral cortex and cerebellum, especially the contralateral hemisphere. GABAA availability in the bilateral primary motor cortex, contralateral supplemental motor cortex, and globus pallidus at T0 was positively correlated with the FMS score at T1 CONCLUSIONS: This is the first prospective, controlled longitudinal study showing that the change in GABA recept

NeurologyNeuroscience
5
Article|65 citations·2011
Regional Cerebral Blood Flow Abnormalities Associated With Apathy and Depression in Alzheimer Disease
Ji Yeon Kang, Jae Sung Lee, Hyejin Kang, Haewoo Lee, Yu Kyeong Kim, Hong Jin Jeon, June-Key Chung, Myung Chul Lee, Maeng Je Cho, Dong Soo Lee
SJR Q2FWCI 2.5Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders

The aim of this study was to identify brain areas related to apathy or depression in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Eighty-one AD patients were enrolled in this prospective study. 99mTc-HMPAO single photon emission computed tomography was performed to evaluate regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). According to the Neuropsychiatric Inventory subscores of apathy and depression, 9 patients were classified as clinically significant (cs) depressed and non-cs-apathetic (D+) groups and 9 were cla

Cognitive NeuroscienceNeuroscience
6
Article|58 citations·2015
Neural substrates of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder in Parkinson's disease
Jae‐Sung Lim, Seong A. Shin, Jee‐Young Lee, Jee‐Young Lee, Hyunwoo Nam, Jun‐Young Lee, Jun‐Young Lee, Yu Kyeong Kim
SJR Q1FWCI 4.4Parkinsonism & Related Disorders
NeurologyMedicine
7
Article|41 citations·2016
Lateral geniculate atrophy in Parkinson's with visual hallucination: A trans‐synaptic degeneration?
Jee‐Young Lee, Jee‐Young Lee, Eun Jin Yoon, Woong Woo Lee, Yu Kyeong Kim, Jun‐Young Lee, Jun‐Young Lee, Beomseok Jeon
SJR Q1FWCI 3.6Movement Disorders

We found microstructural alterations in visual pathways in nondemented PD patients with hallucination, mainly in first-order neurons and atrophy in the lateral geniculate body where the retinal ganglion cells synapse to second-order neurons. Afferent visual pathway degeneration may occur in a trans-synaptic way in PD. Further studies warrant to be conducted.

NeurologyMedicine
8
Article|39 citations·2014
In Vivo Imaging of mGluR5 Changes during Epileptogenesis Using [11C]ABP688 PET in Pilocarpine-Induced Epilepsy Rat Model
Hongyoon Choi, Yu Kyeong Kim, So Won Oh, Hyung‐Jun Im, Do Won Hwang, Hyejin Kang, Boeun Lee, Yun‐Sang Lee, Jae Min Jeong, E. Edmund Kim, June-Key Chung, Dong Soo Lee
SJR Q1FWCI 2.5PLoS ONEOA

In vivo imaging of mGluR5 using [11C]ABP688 microPET/CT could successfully reveal the regional changes of mGluR5 binding potential of the rat brain in a pilocarpine-induced epilepsy model. The temporal and spatial changes in mGluR5 availability suggest [11C]ABP688 PET imaging in epilepsy provide abnormal glutamatergic network during epileptogenesis.

Cellular and Molecular NeuroscienceNeuroscience
9
Article|36 citations·2021
Longitudinal Changes in Isolated Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder‐Related Metabolic Pattern Expression
Ryul Kim, Jee‐Young Lee, Yu Kyeong Kim, Heejung Kim, Eun Jin Yoon, Jung Hwan Shin, Dallah Yoo, Hyunwoo Nam, Beomseok Jeon
SJR Q1FWCI 2.9Movement DisordersOA

The RBDRP expression in iRBD patients was altered significantly over time. Some of the brain metabolic changes seem to represent attempted functional compensation against ongoing neurodegeneration. The RBDRP expression measurement at one time point may not be a reliable biomarker for predicting disease conversion. © 2021 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

NeurologyMedicine
10
Article|32 citations·2017
Precuneus degeneration and isolated apathy in patients with Parkinson’s disease
Jung Hwan Shin, Seong A. Shin, Jee‐Young Lee, Hyunwoo Nam, Jae‐Sung Lim, Yu Kyeong Kim
SJR Q2FWCI 1.6Neuroscience Letters
NeurologyMedicine
11
Article|32 citations·2013
Identifying neuropathic pain using 18F-FDG micro-PET: A multivariate pattern analysis
Chang-Eop Kim, Yu Kyeong Kim, Geehoon Chung, Hyung Jun Im, Dong Soo Lee, Jun Kim, Sang Jeong Kim
SJR Q1FWCI 1.1NeuroImage
PhysiologyMedicine
12
Article|31 citations·2012
Central Presentation of Postviral Olfactory Loss Evaluated by Positron Emission Tomography Scan: A Pilot Study
Yu Kyeong Kim, Sung-Lyong Hong, Eun Jin Yoon, Sang Eun Kim, Jeong‐Whun Kim
SJR Q1FWCI 0.4American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy

This study showed that the postviral olfactory loss is likely to be associated with decreased metabolism in the specific brain regions where the olfactory information is received and integrated.

Sensory SystemsNeuroscience
13
Article|31 citations·2023
Mild behavioral impairment linked to progression to Alzheimer’s disease and cortical thinning in amnestic mild cognitive impairment
Eun Jin Yoon, Jun‐Young Lee, Seyul Kwak, Yu Kyeong Kim
SJR Q1FWCI 6.9Frontiers in Aging NeuroscienceOA

The multiple co-occuring MBI domains in individuals with amnestic MCI are associated with a higher risk of progression to AD and cortical thinning in temporal, parietal and frontal areas. These results suggest that evaluation of MBI could be useful for risk stratification for AD and appropriate intervention in MCI individuals.

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine
14
Article|31 citations·2014
Large-scale plastic changes of the brain network in an animal model of neuropathic pain
Chang-Eop Kim, Yu Kyeong Kim, Geehoon Chung, Jae Min Jeong, Dong Soo Lee, Jun Kim, Sang Jeong Kim
SJR Q1FWCI 1.2NeuroImage
PhysiologyMedicine
15
Article|22 citations·2010
Protective Role of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Against Glucosamine-induced Cytotoxicity in Pancreatic Beta Cells
Yu‐Kyung Kim, Jae‐Hyung Park, Sung-Hee Park, Bora Lim, Won‐Ki Baek, Sung‐Il Suh, Jung‐Geun Lim, Gyeong Ryul Ryu, Dae‐Kyu Song
SJR Q2FWCI 3.0Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry

High doses of glucosamine have been known to induce apoptosis of pancreatic beta cells. The mechanism for this phenomenon has not been clearly elucidated. We aimed to explore the potential mechanisms for glucosamine toxicity in the rat insulinoma cell line INS-1 and in rat native beta cells. We also investigated whether glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 could be protective against glucosamine. Glucosamine exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of cell survival and an increase in the cell population at

SurgeryMedicine

Research Areas

Psychiatry and Mental healthPhysiologyNeurologyRadiology, Nuclear Medicine and ImagingCognitive NeuroscienceCellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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