Final answer:
The PET scan is a medical imaging technique that uses radioactive glucose to analyze brain function by detecting metabolically active regions, which are highlighted as 'hot spots' on images.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the techniques used to study the functioning of the brain involves a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, which utilizes radioactive substances such as radioactive glucose to examine brain activity. The radioactive glucose, often tagged with a positron emitter like F-18, is introduced into the body, commonly through injection. The PET scanner then detects areas of high metabolic activity, as these regions will uptake more glucose. While performing a PET scan, a radiotracer is used, and the images produced can indicate the most metabolically active tissues by depicting them as bright "hot spots." This is particularly useful not only for analyzing brain function but also in identifying cancer cells since they consume glucose at a high rate. However, it's important to note that the PET scans have certain limitations, such as lower spatial resolution compared to other imaging technologies like fMRI, and the requirement for the brain to be exposed to radiation.