Cerebral blood flow and metabolism in schizophrenia

Cerebral blood flow and metabolism

This category provides information regarding changes to cerebral blood flow and metabolism in schizophrenia. These are assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), positron emission tomography (PET), and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Click on the links or the tabs below to access the information, or browse via the drop-down menu on the left.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

What is fMRI? Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is used to determine functional activation of brain regions when an individual performs tasks (or rests) inside an MRI scanner. Most commonly fMRI studies use visual, auditory, motor or sensory stimuli to evoke neural responses in the brain. Recent fMRI studies also examine activity of the brain at rest. Changes in blood flow are interpreted to represent brain activation (or deactivation) associated with a particular brain state (i.e, while performing a particular activity, or while the brain is at rest). Functional activity has been investigated in people with schizophrenia compared to people…

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy

What is magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)? MRS is a specialised imaging technique that utilises magnetic resonance imaging to investigate biochemical alterations within tissues. Two notable methods of MRS are 1H-MRS (proton-MRS) and 31P-MRS (phosphorus-MRS). Each technique is sensitive to different metabolic compounds. 1H-MRS can be used to measure N-acetylaspartate, an amino acid that is used as a marker of neuronal viability. Decreased levels are associated with neuron death or dysfunction. 1H-MRS is also used to measure creatine, a compound involved in energy metabolism, glutamate, a neurotransmitter, and glutamine, a metabolite of glutamate. 31P-MRS is used to measure phospholipid levels, such…

Positron emission tomography

What is positron emission tomography? Positron emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear based imaging technique that utilises a radioactive tracer to visualise functional brain activity. PET imaging is frequently used in combination with anatomical imaging such as computed tomography (CT) or structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The radioisotopes tracers are coupled with a biological molecule such as glucose, which is used during cellular metabolism and can be used to highlight areas with changes in metabolic activity. Using PET, functional brain activity has been investigated in people with schizophrenia compared to people without schizophrenia to identify regions of increased or decreased…

Single photon emission computed tomography

What is SPECT? Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a nuclear based imaging technique that uses radioactive tracers to visualise functional brain activity. SPECT imaging is frequently used in combination with anatomical imaging such as computed tomography (CT) or structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The radioisotope tracers are coupled with a biological molecule such as glucose, which is used during cellular metabolism and can be used to highlight areas with changes in metabolic activity. Functional brain activity has been investigated in people with schizophrenia compared to people without schizophrenia to identify regions of increased or decreased metabolic function or blood…

NeuRA Libraries

Title Colour Legend:
Green - Topic summary is available.
Orange - Topic summary is being compiled.
Red - Topic summary has no current systematic review available.