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Positron Emission Tomography in the Study of Brain Metabolism in Psychiatric and Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 August 2018

C. J. Bench ,
R. J. Dolan ,
K. J. Friston  and
R. S. J. Frackowiak
C. J. Bench*
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, Royal Free Hospital and School of Medicine, Pond Street, London NWS 2QG and Medical Research Council Cyclotron Unit, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0HS
R. J. Dolan
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, Royal Free Hospital and School of Medicine, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG and Medical Research Council Cyclotron Unit, Hammersmith Hospital
K. J. Friston
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, Charing Cross and Westminster Hospitals and School of Medicine, Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8RF and Medical Research Council Cyclotron Unit, Hammersmith Hospital
R. S. J. Frackowiak
Affiliation:
Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0NN and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Medical Research Council Cyclotron Unit, Hammersmith Hospital
*
∗Correspondence
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Extract

Positron emission tomography (PET) differs fundamentally from computerised tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in that it is a method for measuring function as opposed to structure. It is the most powerful tool available for the measurement of in-vivo brain function. This review describes the basic principles of the technique and its application to the study of brain metabolism in neurological and psychiatric disorder. The development of resting-state metabolic studies by the application of specific activation paradigms, a major current focus of the technique, is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 157 , Issue S9: Brain imaging in psychiatry , December 1990 , pp. 82 - 95
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1990 

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