Which brain imaging technique is commonly used for tracking glucose metabolism?

The brain imaging technique that is commonly used for tracking glucose metabolism is the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan. This technique involves the use of a radiotracer, typically a form of glucose labeled with a radioactive isotope, which is injected into the bloodstream. As cells in the brain metabolize the glucose, they take up the tracer, allowing researchers to visualize and measure metabolic activity.

PET scans are particularly valuable in studying brain function because they provide insight into how different regions of the brain use glucose, which is a primary energy source. This can help identify areas of the brain that might be underperforming or have abnormalities associated with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, or epilepsy.

While other imaging techniques like MRI and CT scans offer structural information about the brain, and EEG measures electrical activity, they do not provide the same direct insights into metabolic activity as a PET scan does. Thus, the PET scan is specifically designed to measure glucose metabolism, making it the optimal choice for this purpose.