Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 27, 2026
07:44
Localization of the Locus Coeruleus in the Mouse Brain
Published on: March 7, 2019
18.4K
Is this Red Spot the Blue Spot (locus ceruleus)?
Wonsick Choe1, Yukyung Lee1, Minkyung Lee1
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Gachon University Gil Hospital, Incheon, 405-760 South Korea.
Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
|July 12, 2014
Summary
Positron emission tomography (PET) brain imaging revealed significantly higher 18F-FDG uptake in the locus ceruleus of a schizophrenia patient. This finding highlights the locus ceruleus
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder with debated neurobiological underpinnings.
- The locus ceruleus, a brainstem nucleus, is central to the norepinephrine system and implicated in various cognitive functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the metabolic activity of the locus ceruleus in a patient with schizophrenia using 18F-FDG-PET imaging.
Main Methods:
- 18F-FDG-PET (Fluorodeoxyglucose-Positron Emission Tomography) brain imaging was performed on a single case of schizophrenia.
- Analysis focused on regional glucose metabolism, particularly in the locus ceruleus.
Main Results:
- Strikingly increased bilateral 18F-FDG uptake was observed in the locus ceruleus.
- This indicates heightened metabolic activity in this specific brain region.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest a potential role for the locus ceruleus and its noradrenergic system in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
- Further research is warranted to explore the implications of locus ceruleus hyperactivity in schizophrenia.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:20Anatomy of the Eyeball
8.4K
The eye is a spherical, hollow structure composed of three tissue layers. The outer layer — the fibrous tunic, comprises the sclera — a white structure — and the cornea, which is transparent. The sclera encompasses some of the ocular surface, most of which is not visible. However, the 'white of the eye' is distinctively visible in humans compared to other species. The cornea, a clear covering at the front of the eye, enables light penetration. The eye's middle...
8.4K
01:16Focusing of Light in the Eye
6.1K
Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, a transparent dome-shaped tissue that is the eye's outermost layer. The cornea bends or refracts, light rays traveling to the pupil. The shape of the cornea determines how much of the light is bent and whether the image will be focused correctly on the retina at the back of the eye. Once the light has passed through both refraction layers, it converges into a single focal point onto a small area. This is where photoreceptors start transforming...
6.1K
01:22Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
8.3K
At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category,...
8.3K
01:24Color Vision
2.0K
Color perception begins in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. Two main theories explain how colors are seen: the trichromatic theory and the opponent-process theory. The trichromatic theory, proposed by Thomas Young in 1802 and extended by Hermann von Helmholtz in 1852, suggests that color vision is based on three types of cone receptors in the retina. These cones are sensitive to different but overlapping ranges of wavelengths corresponding to red, blue, and green.
2.0K
01:26Locus of Control
401
Locus of control describes how individuals perceive the causes of events in their lives, influencing motivation and well-being. Introduced by Julian Rotter in 1954, it is categorized into internal and external locus of control.Internal Locus of ControlIndividuals with an internal locus of control believe their actions determine outcomes, fostering responsibility, self-efficacy, and motivation. For example, an employee may attribute career success to hard work. Research links this mindset to...
401
01:02The Pineal Gland
7.8K
The pineal gland, a diminutive endocrine structure named for its pinecone-shaped appearance, is situated atop the third ventricle within the diencephalon region of the forebrain. This gland, composed of secretory cells known as pinealocytes arranged in compact cords and clusters around dense particles of calcium salts, plays a pivotal role in hormonal regulation.
The primary secretion of the pineal gland is the hormone melatonin, derived from serotonin. The concentration of melatonin in the...
The primary secretion of the pineal gland is the hormone melatonin, derived from serotonin. The concentration of melatonin in the...
7.8K