Final answer:
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is the brain research technique that involves monitoring the brain's usage of glucose. PET scans use a tracer to create a map of active and inactive areas of the brain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The brain research technique that involves monitoring the brain's usage of glucose is called Positron Emission Tomography (PET). PET scans use a mildly radioactive substance, called a tracer, that is injected into the bloodstream. As brain areas become more active, more blood flows to those areas, and the tracer allows the computer to create a rough map of active and inactive areas of the brain.