Brain Imaging in Depression: PET Scan Comparison of Depressed vs Non-Depressed Patients #1440391 (License: Personal Use)

This side-by-side PET (positron emission tomography) scan comparison illustrates regional glucose metabolism in the brain: the left image, labeled “Depressed,” displays markedly reduced metabolic activity-especially in frontal and limbic regions-while the right image, labeled “Not depressed,” shows robust activity across cortical and subcortical areas. The color scale reflects intensity, with blue indicating low uptake and yellow/orange indicating high uptake. These patterns support clinical evidence linking hypoactivity in prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices to depressive disorders.

Used in medical education, mental health awareness campaigns, and clinical presentations to illustrate neurobiological correlates of depression; matches user intent seeking scientific visual evidence of depression’s impact on brain function.