Integrating PET with behavioral neuroscience using RatCAP tomography
-
Daniela Schulz
and
Paul Vaska
Abstract
Behavioral studies are an important part of neuroscience. They allow inferences about the functions of the brain and any internal states and processes it controls. Positron emission tomography (PET) is an in vivo imaging technique that provides insights into the mechanisms of neuronal communication. In this review, we focus on some of the contributions of PET to the field of behavioral neuroscience. Small animals typically require anesthesia to remain still during PET imaging, which places a burden on behavioral studies. Our approach integrates PET with behavioral observations using a miniature PET scanner that rats wear on the head, a mobility system to facilitate animal movement and ways to integrate the PET data with behavioral measures. We summarize our studies that assessed spontaneous, self-initiated behavioral activity and dopamine D2 receptor functions simultaneously.
©2011 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Guest Editorial
- The emerging discipline of behavioral neuroimaging
- Special Issue: Behavioral Neuroimaging
- Cognition in action: imaging brain/body dynamics in mobile humans
- Neuroimaging for drug addiction and related behaviors
- Pharmacological challenge and synaptic response – assessing dopaminergic function in the rat striatum with small animal single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET)
- Integrating PET with behavioral neuroscience using RatCAP tomography
- Motion-tracking technique in unrestrained small-animal single-photon emission computed tomography
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging in awake animals
- Manganese enhanced MRI (MEMRI): neurophysiological applications
- Optical detection of brain function: simultaneous imaging of cerebral vascular response, tissue metabolism, and cellular activity in vivo
Articles in the same Issue
- Guest Editorial
- The emerging discipline of behavioral neuroimaging
- Special Issue: Behavioral Neuroimaging
- Cognition in action: imaging brain/body dynamics in mobile humans
- Neuroimaging for drug addiction and related behaviors
- Pharmacological challenge and synaptic response – assessing dopaminergic function in the rat striatum with small animal single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET)
- Integrating PET with behavioral neuroscience using RatCAP tomography
- Motion-tracking technique in unrestrained small-animal single-photon emission computed tomography
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging in awake animals
- Manganese enhanced MRI (MEMRI): neurophysiological applications
- Optical detection of brain function: simultaneous imaging of cerebral vascular response, tissue metabolism, and cellular activity in vivo
