The effect of inotropic stimulation on the pattern and magnitude of regional left ventricular contraction was studied using tagged magnetic resonance imaging to assess whether dobutamine exacerbates variation in regional contraction at rest. Dobutamine stress testing defines a normal response as a homogeneous increase in regional wall motion. In 8 normal subjects, 4 equally spaced left ventricular short-axis levels were imaged through systole using tagged magnetic resonance imaging. The baseline imaging sequence was repeated with 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-microg/kg/min dobutamine infusion. Regional myocardial displacement, radial thickening, and circumferential shortening were measured. The left ventricle was analyzed by level (base to apex) and wall (septum, inferior, lateral, anterior). Dobutamine did not alter baseline regional functional heterogeneity. Dobutamine infusion resulted in a uniform increase in displacement, radial thickening, and circumferential shortening from baseline to 10-microg/kg/min infusion without additional increases at higher doses.