Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Overview01:09

Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Overview

5.2K
When electromagnetic radiation passes through a material, atoms or molecules transition from a lower to a higher energy state by absorbing radiation corresponding to the energy difference between the two states. The absorption of infrared (IR) radiation causes transitions between vibrational energy levels in a molecule. Therefore, IR spectroscopy is a useful analytical tool for determining the molecular structure of molecules.
Different compounds display unique properties due to their...
5.2K
Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Infrared Spectroscopy: Overview01:13

Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Infrared Spectroscopy: Overview

1.3K
Attenuated total reflectance (ATR) infrared spectroscopy is a powerful analytical technique used to study the composition of materials. It is widely employed in chemistry, materials science, forensic science, and other fields where sample characterization is required. ATR has several advantages over traditional transmission IR spectroscopy, including the requirement of little to no sample preparation and the ability to analyze a wide range of samples.
The ATR process begins by directing a beam...
1.3K
The Electromagnetic Spectrum02:37

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

65.4K
The electromagnetic spectrum consists of all the types of electromagnetic radiation arranged according to their frequency and wavelength. Each of the various colors of visible light has specific frequencies and wavelengths associated with them, and you can see that visible light makes up only a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Because the technologies developed to work in various parts of the electromagnetic spectrum are different, for reasons of convenience and historical...
65.4K
What is Weather?01:07

What is Weather?

20.2K
Overview
20.2K
Global Climate Change01:50

Global Climate Change

29.0K
Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.
29.0K
Emission Spectra02:39

Emission Spectra

76.4K
When solids, liquids, or condensed gases are heated sufficiently, they radiate some of the excess energy as light. Photons produced in this manner have a range of energies, and thereby produce a continuous spectrum in which an unbroken series of wavelengths is present.
76.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Comparative Efficacy of Various Exercise Modes on Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Heart Failure: A Pairwise and Network Meta-Analysis.

Medicine and science in sports and exercise·2026
Same author

Probability of a timely vocal response in mother-infant interaction and later psychiatric diagnosis: A case-control study.

PloS one·2026
Same author

The efficacy of carbohydrate-restricted diets on reducing visceral and liver fat in individuals with overweight and obesity: a systematic review and pairwise and network meta-analyses.

Critical reviews in food science and nutrition·2026
Same author

Comparative efficacy of exercise modes on inflammatory cytokines in patients with breast cancer: a systematic review with pairwise and network meta-analyses.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

The effects of hypoxic versus normoxic exercise training on body composition, cardiometabolic health markers, and functional performance in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation·2026
Same author

Efficacy of Different Modes of Intermittent Fasting for Decreasing Visceral and Subcutaneous Fat in Adults With Overweight and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.

Nutrition reviews·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Infrared Thermography for the Detection of Changes in Brown Adipose Tissue Activity
08:16

Infrared Thermography for the Detection of Changes in Brown Adipose Tissue Activity

Published on: September 28, 2022

2.9K

Infrared Thermography.

James Law1, David E Morris2, Helen Budge1

  • 1School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.

Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology
|July 8, 2018
PubMed
Summary

This article reviews how infrared thermography serves as a safe, non-invasive alternative to traditional radiation-based imaging for detecting heat produced by brown fat in humans. By measuring surface temperature, researchers can now study brown fat activity without exposing participants to harmful radiation.

Keywords:
Brown adipose tissueBrown fatImage analysisInfrared radiationInfrared thermographyRegion of interest identificationThermal imagingmetabolic imagingthermal sensorsnon-invasive diagnosticssupraclavicular fat

Frequently Asked Questions

More Related Videos

In Situ Surface Temperature Measurement in a Conveyor Belt Furnace via Inline Infrared Thermography
07:03

In Situ Surface Temperature Measurement in a Conveyor Belt Furnace via Inline Infrared Thermography

Published on: May 30, 2020

4.8K
The Use of High-resolution Infrared Thermography HRIT for the Study of Ice Nucleation and Ice Propagation in Plants
09:36

The Use of High-resolution Infrared Thermography HRIT for the Study of Ice Nucleation and Ice Propagation in Plants

Published on: May 8, 2015

10.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Infrared Thermography for the Detection of Changes in Brown Adipose Tissue Activity
08:16

Infrared Thermography for the Detection of Changes in Brown Adipose Tissue Activity

Published on: September 28, 2022

2.9K
In Situ Surface Temperature Measurement in a Conveyor Belt Furnace via Inline Infrared Thermography
07:03

In Situ Surface Temperature Measurement in a Conveyor Belt Furnace via Inline Infrared Thermography

Published on: May 30, 2020

4.8K
The Use of High-resolution Infrared Thermography HRIT for the Study of Ice Nucleation and Ice Propagation in Plants
09:36

The Use of High-resolution Infrared Thermography HRIT for the Study of Ice Nucleation and Ice Propagation in Plants

Published on: May 8, 2015

10.0K

Area of Science:

  • Metabolic physiology research involving Infrared Thermography
  • Diagnostic imaging in endocrinology

Background:

Scientists have long struggled to identify brown fat deposits within the human body due to their hidden nature. This gap motivated researchers to rely on advanced scanning tools for detection. Prior work confirmed that specific signals observed during standard medical scans represented these metabolic tissues. That uncertainty drove the need for more accessible diagnostic approaches in clinical settings. PET-CT scans currently serve as the primary method for visualizing these deposits. However, these procedures involve significant radiation exposure for the individuals being tested. This limitation restricts the scope of prospective investigations into metabolic health. No prior work had resolved the conflict between diagnostic accuracy and patient safety until recently.

Purpose Of The Study:

The aim of this review is to evaluate the utility of infrared thermography for detecting brown fat activity. Researchers sought to address the limitations inherent in current radiation-based diagnostic imaging. This study explores why alternative, non-invasive methods are necessary for human physiological research. The authors investigate the heat-generating properties of specific fat depots to determine their suitability for thermal detection. This work addresses the challenge of identifying these tissues in a safe, prospective manner. The motivation stems from the need to expand research beyond retrospective clinical imaging reviews. Investigators analyze how modern technology facilitates the study of metabolic processes in larger cohorts. This paper clarifies the potential for remote temperature sensing to replace more hazardous diagnostic procedures.

Main Methods:

The review approach synthesized existing literature on non-invasive metabolic imaging techniques. Investigators evaluated the efficacy of thermal sensors compared to traditional radioactive scanning protocols. This analysis focused on the physical properties of heat emission from superficial body depots. Researchers examined how software advancements improved the precision of temperature mapping. The study design prioritized safety and accessibility for human subject research. Authors assessed the limitations of retrospective clinical data sets. They explored the transition from ionizing radiation methods to remote sensing tools. The synthesis utilized peer-reviewed evidence to validate the utility of these cameras.

Main Results:

Key findings from the literature demonstrate that thermal imaging successfully captures heat signatures from superficial fat deposits. The data confirms that these deposits are located in the supraclavicular region. Evidence shows that PET-CT remains the gold standard but restricts prospective study designs due to radiation. Results indicate that thermal cameras provide a non-contact alternative for measuring metabolic activity. The literature highlights that recent software developments enable more accurate image interpretation. Findings suggest that environmental temperature influences the visibility of these metabolic signals. The review establishes that this modality is suitable for monitoring activation in diverse populations. Data synthesis confirms that remote sensing avoids the safety constraints of conventional diagnostic imaging.

Conclusions:

The authors suggest that thermal imaging provides a viable path for future metabolic studies. This approach avoids the radiation risks associated with traditional diagnostic scanning methods. Researchers propose that surface heat signatures accurately reflect deep tissue metabolic states. The synthesis of current evidence indicates that non-contact sensors offer reliable data collection. These findings imply that large-scale population screening is now more practical than before. The review highlights how technological advancements improve our ability to monitor physiological changes. Authors conclude that this modality represents a shift toward safer clinical assessment tools. This perspective frames thermal monitoring as a robust alternative for longitudinal health tracking.

The researchers propose that infrared thermography detects heat signatures produced by brown fat. Unlike PET-CT, which relies on glucose uptake, this method measures surface temperature changes remotely without ionizing radiation.

The supraclavicular region is the target area. This site is chosen because the tissue deposits are located relatively close to the skin surface, allowing for accurate detection of thermal emissions.

The authors explain that PET-CT is the gold standard but carries radiation risks. In contrast, infrared thermography is non-invasive and non-contact, enabling broader prospective studies that were previously limited by safety concerns.

Image analysis software plays a role in processing raw thermal data. These tools allow scientists to quantify activation levels in populations, making the technique more feasible for modern research applications.

The phenomenon measured is the heat-generating property of brown fat. This metabolic activity creates a distinct temperature signature that the camera captures to differentiate the tissue from surrounding areas.

The authors imply that this technology facilitates new ways to study metabolic activation. They suggest that moving away from radiation-heavy scans will allow for more frequent, longitudinal monitoring of human physiology.