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Brain Imaging

Brain Imaging

Brain imaging technologies provide critical insights into both the structure and function of the human brain, enabling medical professionals and researchers to diagnose, study, and treat neurological disorders or psychiatric disorders more effectively.
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 8, 2025

Presynaptic Dopamine Dynamics in Striatal Brain Slices with Fast-scan Cyclic Voltammetry

Presynaptic Dopamine Dynamics in Striatal Brain Slices with Fast-scan Cyclic Voltammetry

Published on: January 12, 2012

The chemical tools for imaging dopamine release.

Michael R Post¹, David Sulzer²

¹Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.

Cell Chemical Biology

|April 24, 2021

Summary

Imaging dopamine in the brain is crucial for understanding neurological disorders. New molecular tools, including small molecules, nanoparticles, and protein sensors, enable advanced dopamine research using various imaging techniques.

Keywords:

MRI MRS PET catecholamine dopamine dopamine sensor dopamine tracer false neurotransmitter fluorescence fluorescent protein

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Last Updated: Nov 8, 2025

Presynaptic Dopamine Dynamics in Striatal Brain Slices with Fast-scan Cyclic Voltammetry

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Published on: January 12, 2012

Single Cell Measurement of Dopamine Release with Simultaneous Voltage-clamp and Amperometry

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Published on: November 21, 2012

A Plate-Based Assay for the Measurement of Endogenous Monoamine Release in Acute Brain Slices

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Published on: August 11, 2021

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Chemistry
Biochemistry

Background:

Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter regulating learning, motor control, and reward.
Dysfunction in the dopaminergic system is linked to major neuropsychiatric disorders like Parkinson's disease, autism, and schizophrenia.
Effective in vivo imaging of dopamine in humans remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current molecular tools for tracing dopamine in research.
To discuss the advantages and limitations of various dopamine imaging techniques.
To highlight the chemistry and biology underlying these tracing methods.

Main Methods:

Review of small molecules, nanoparticles, and protein sensors for dopamine tracing.
Analysis of techniques including fluorescent microscopy/photometry, MRI, and PET.
Examination of how tools leverage dopamine system biology (synthesis, metabolism, receptors, vesicle cycle).

Main Results:

Development of diverse molecular tools over the last two decades.
These tools indirectly detect dopamine by exploiting its biological pathways.
Various imaging modalities (fluorescence, MRI, PET) are employed.

Conclusions:

Current dopamine imaging tools offer valuable insights but do not directly observe dopamine.
Understanding the underlying chemistry and biology is essential for interpreting imaging data.
Continued development of these tools is vital for advancing research into dopaminergic system disorders.