Next generation positron imaging technologies for contemporaneous measurements of brain function and behaviour in freely moving mice

小鼠大脑是后发射断层扫描(PET)成像研究的重要靶点，其目的是阐明特定分子通路在确定正常和异常脑功能中的作用。然而，目前的成像技术要求动物是无意识的，这排除了对涉及认知、学习和行为的路径的研究。为了克服这一主要限制，该项目将：研究能够连续成像运动动物的断层摄影设计；开发具有亚毫米空间分辨率和交互深度能力的正电子发射计算机断层扫描探测器；以及开发完全集成的运动跟踪系统。这项研究将引领下一代PET技术在自由活动的小鼠中进行同期脑成像和行为分析。

The mouse brain is an important target for Post Emission Tomography (PET) imaging studies that aim to elucidate the role of specific molecular pathways in determining normal and aberrant brain function. However, current imaging technology requires the animal to be unconscious which precludes the study of pathways involved in cognition, learning and behaviour. To overcome this major limitation this project will: investigate tomograph designs capable of continuously imaging a moving animal; develop a PET detector with sub-millimetre spatial resolution and depth-of-interaction capability; and, develop a fully integrated motion tracking system. This research will lead to next generation PET technologies for contemporaneous brain imaging and behavioural analysis in freely moving mice.