PSYC 271 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Ct Scan, Photographic Plate
Document Summary
When region of brain is active there is more blood flow to that region. Highlight brain areas that are active by determining metabolic activity of specific brain regions rather than showing all structures. Patient injected with radioactive 2-deoxyglucose (fluorodeoxygluscose) b/c taken up by neurons. But cannot be metabolized like glucose can therefore accumulates in them. After injected participate in activity while being recorded by pet scan of brain. Pet then reveals images of horizontal sections where radioactivity has accumulated showing active areas. Example: from del campo, fryer, hong on adhd and how single dose of methylphenidate affects mechanisms. Patients who scored poorly had reduced left caudate dopamine therefore dopamine dysregulation unlikely to be primary cause of adhd in adults. Most useful in identifying brain molecules by injecting patient with ligands (molecules that bind to other molecules) X-ray techniques: conventional, not useful for human brain, x-ray taken and beam passed through object onto photographic plate, contrast x-ray techniques.