ABSTRACT
In this chapter, an introductory account is given of some of the main features of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD fMRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography, arterial spin labelling (ASL), single-photonemission computed tomography (SPECT) and positronemission tomography (PET), with an emphasis on their applications in modern psychiatry. The temptation to include mathematical equations has largely been resisted. Detailed aspects of the physics involved have been omitted, as have details of different magnetic resonance (MR)
sequences, echo-planar imaging and the workings of the PET cyclotron. For readers interested in these details, a selection of suitable further reading is given at the end of the chapter.
