Brain
Function In Vivo
- PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and
SPECT (Single Photon Emission Tomography)
- fMRI (functional Magnet Resonance Imaging)
The PET and SPECT techniques are used for
the registration of various aspects of the brain function and biochemistry
in the living human brain using radiotracers. The techniques are
commonly used in neuropsychiatric research as the activity or signaling
mechanisms can be studied simultaneously in the entire brain, allowing
a quantitative determination of the neurological systems in the
brain.
Blood flow
Increased functional activity in a brain region results in an
increased blood flow. Studying the regional blood flow in the brain
thus reflects variations in the regional brain activity.
Neuroreceptors
The neurotransmitter receptors in the brain, often dopaminergic
and serotonergic, are of fundamental importance in the studies of
neuropsychiatric diseases. These receptors are also the main targets
for most neuroactive drugs used today. The density and distribution
of these receptors and their binding characteristics in various
psychiatric and psychological states can today with great accuracy
be determined using PET or SPECT.
Transporters
Neurotransmitters that are released into the synaptic cleft can
be re-transported into the presynaptic neuron by transporter proteins
(re-uptake mechanisms). These transporters are also important targets
for psychopharmacological drugs. The density, distribution and characteristics
of these transporters can be determined similar to the receptors
using PET or SPECT.
fMRI allows the determination of rapid changes
in blood volume and perfusion in the brain, indicating changes in
regional brain activity. The technique will thus be used for the
studying these changes in various neuropsychiatric diseases.
Domain responsible: Lars Farde and Per Karlsson
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Karlsson
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