PET SCANS

Positron Emission Topography

 DEFINITIONS
• PET: Positron Emission Topography

• Positron: positive charge released due to beta decay -> to create a neutron

• Gamma radiation: penetrating electromagnetic radiation due to radioactive decay 

• Tracer: radioactive material bound to an organic molecule

• Metabolism: prosses by which cells convert organic molecules into

• Cyclotron: a subatopic particle accelerator

 PROCUDURE
• patients are injected with a radioactive tracer (e.g. glucose), through blood travels to brain ->
shows the areas where tracer is absorbed in the active brain by its indirect emission of gamma
rays
• More tracer metabolism means more brain activity.
• PET scans show a coloured visual display of brain activity; where radioactive tracer is
absorbed
• Red indicates areas with the most activity 
• Blue indicates areas with the least activity 

• Scan time: 30min - 2hours

• PET is used to observe metabolic processes/brain activity -> function

VIDEO
MACHINES
 BENEFITS
• Allows participants to perform psychological tasks while the researcher observes brain
activity
• Patients can immediately return to usual activities afterwards
• Good at diagnosing early stages of neurological illnesses (Alzheimer, epilepsy) and cancer
• Can detect illnesses in the body, not just the brain
• Provides both structure and function
 LIMITATIONS
• Expensive
• Longer procedure then the MRI
• Poor resolution
• Limit on the amount of tracer
• Some people may be allergic to tracer
• Invasive actions – injection -> rises ethical issues
• Radiation
 STUDY: SETIAWAN ET AL (2013)
Aim: study the role the dopamine and the mesolimbic reward pathway in alcohol use disorders
(AUDs)
Procedure: 26 healthy young social drinkers (8F and 18M; 18-30)
1. Questionnaires (lifetime drug/alcohol use and the Tridimensional Personality
Questionnaire)
2. Categorised into high and low-risk for alcoholism
3. Two PET scans on different days
4. Did or did not receive alcohol + blood samples were taken
Results:
• ‘High risk’ participants = greater activity in the mesolimbic reward pathway
• ‘Low risk’ participants = lower activity; decreased dopamine response
 QUIZ
• https://quizlet.com/_blyq8b?x=1jqt&i=1ldohl
THE END