Fluorodeoxyglucose PET and Consciousness.
C. Ayubcha, Thomas Werner, Abass Alavi, Andrew B. Newberg
PET Clinics July 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpet.2026.04.001 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key findings | Argues that FDG PET neuroimaging has provided insights into the neural correlates of consciousness across various states, but faces significant methodological and conceptual limitations. |
Abstract
An expanding body of advanced functional neuroimaging research, particularly using fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET, has sought to characterize the neurologic foundations of consciousness. Investigations have examined a broad spectrum of conscious states, as well as experimental methods for inducing alterations in conscious experience. These states range from typical waking awareness to various stages of sleep, the anesthetized brain, and conditions associated with neurologic or psychiatric disorders such as seizures and schizophrenia. This review describes key findings from these lines of inquiry and discusses the methodological limitations and conceptual challenges in studying consciousness through neuroimaging approaches such as FDG PET.