Libby's physician refers her to a medical center in order to have the biochemical activity in her brain analyzed. She is given an injection of a radioactive glucose-like substance and then is told to lie down with her head in a scanner. The technique being used is ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The technique described is positron emission tomography (PET), which involves the injection of a radioactive substance (such as glucose) that is taken up by active regions of the brain. The PET scanner detects the location and intensity of the radioactivity, which indicates where the glucose is being metabolized, giving insight into the biochemical activity of the brain. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is another imaging technique used to measure brain activity, but it does not involve the injection of a radioactive substance. Microelectrode recording and electroencephalography (EEG) are other methods used to measure brain activity but are not used to measure biochemical activity.

Libby's Physician Refers Her to a Medical Center in Order