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What is SPECT?

SPECT is an acronym for Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography. SPECT is a sophisticated nuclear medicine study that looks directly at cerebral blood flow and indirectly at brain activity (or metabolism). A radioactive compound is bound to glucose that is readily taken up by the cells in the brain. Scientists can detect those radioactive gamma rays with film or special crystals, and can record an accumulation of the number of beacons that have decayed in each area of the brain. These unstable atoms are essentially tracking devices – they track which cells were most active and had the most blood flow and those cells which are least active and have the least blood flow. Using these methods, one can "see" inside the brain. SPECT scans are some of the best tools in evaluating functional deficits from brain trauma that are often not seen by other studies, leading to more understanding and effective treatments for patients

 
 
Normal Brain - Top-Down SPECT Imaging
Alcohol - 28 year old, 17 years use
Cocaine -27 year old, 2 years use
Heroin -39 year old, 25 years use
  
 
Normal Brain - Top-Down SPECT Imaging
Alcohol - 28 year old, 17 years use
Cocaine -27 year old, 2 years use
Heroin -39 year old, 25 years use
  
     
 
Marijuana -57 year old, 30 years use
Methadone -36 year old, 10 years use
Methamphetimine - 27 Year old, 8 years use
Inhalants - 22 year old, 4 years use
  
 
Marijuana -57 year old, 30 years use

Methadone -36 year old, 10 years use
Methamphetimine - 27 Year old, 5 years use
Inhalants - 22 year old, 4 years use
  
 

Featured Video: The Brain and its Chemicals

  
 

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