Which neuroimaging technique produces colour images of brain structure, activity and function?

• A. Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
• B. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• C. Computerised Tomography (CT)
• D. Electrical Stimulation of the Brain (ESB)

Answer: (A)

This question is about what PET imaging shows. Positron Emission Tomography tracks a radioactive tracer that reflects metabolic activity in the brain, so the resulting images are color-coded maps of activity levels. Those color maps are usually overlaid on an anatomical background from CT or MRI, giving you a view that combines brain structure with functional activity. That’s why PET is the technique that yields colour images showing both where the brain is and how active it is.

In contrast, MRI and CT mainly provide detailed structural pictures in grayscale, and ESB is a stimulation method rather than an imaging technique. So PET best fits the description of producing colour images of brain structure, activity, and function when combined with anatomical data.