Question

If you learned that a friend of yours was undergoing a brain scan that definitely did NOT involve the injection of radioactive glucose but measured the amount of oxygen being metabolized, you would know immediately that she was undergoing a(n):

Answer 1

The student's friend is undergoing a functional MRI (fMRI), which is a non-invasive brain scan technique that measures blood flow and oxygen use in the brain.

Step-by-step explanation:

The brain scan you're referring to is a functional MRI (fMRI). This imaging technique measures the changes in blood flow and oxygen use within the brain. Unlike a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, fMRI does not require the injection of radioactive substances. Instead, fMRI detects fluctuations in blood oxygen levels; it exploits the magnetic properties of blood, which differ based on whether hemoglobin is oxygenated or deoxygenated.

In short, fMRI provides images of brain activity by measuring blood flow related to neural activity. Since no radioactive glucose was used, and the focus is on oxygen metabolism, fMRI is the imaging technique being utilized. With fMRI, we can detect this blood oxygen-dependent signal and map the functioning of various regions in the brain.

Answer 2

If your friend is undergoing a brain scan that measures the amount of oxygen being metabolized and does not involve the injection of radioactive glucose, she is undergoing a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that measures changes in blood oxygenation levels in the brain. It detects the metabolic activity of different brain regions by measuring the blood flow and oxygen utilization in those areas. This is achieved through the use of a strong magnetic field and radio waves.

During an fMRI scan, the person lies inside a scanner, and their brain activity is recorded while they perform specific tasks or simply rest. The fMRI scan captures the changes in blood oxygenation levels in response to the brain's activity. It can provide valuable insights into brain functioning, such as identifying regions involved in various cognitive processes, mapping brain networks, and studying brain disorders.

In contrast, the injection of radioactive glucose is commonly used in positron emission tomography (PET) scans. PET scans measure brain activity by detecting the radioactive decay of glucose molecules. The radioactive glucose accumulates in areas of the brain with higher metabolic activity, allowing researchers to visualize brain function.

Therefore, if your friend's brain scan does not involve the injection of radioactive glucose and measures the amount of oxygen being metabolized, she is undergoing an fMRI scan.