Neuroimaging and consciousness: applications of PET, SPECT, and advanced MRI modalities.
Raj N Patel, Shiv Patil, Alexander L. Gerlach, Eric Teichner, Deepak Indrakanti, Robert Subtirelu, Joseph Zwillenberg, Om H Gandhi, Jaskeerat Gujral, Thomas Werner, Abass Alavi, Andrew B. Newberg
American journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging 2026 DOI: 10.62347/pprc2997 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Consciousness Brain imaging Cerebral blood flow Cerebral metabolism |
| Key findings | Neuroimaging studies have explored consciousness in various states and induction methods, but face significant limitations and challenges. |
Abstract
A growing number of advanced neuroimaging studies have been used to evaluate the nature of consciousness. Such studies have focused on various states of consciousness as well as ways of inducing altered states of consciousness. Various states of consciousness include the normal waking state, sleep states, the brain under anesthesia, and the impact of disorders such as seizures or schizophrenia. The induction of altered states of consciousness includes practices such as meditation or the use of psychoactive substances leading to psychedelic effects. This paper reviews some of the relevant research and then considers some of limitations and challenges for studying consciousness with neuroimaging, particularly via positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modalities.