title: Commentary on the 2016 named series: Neuroimaging, inflammation and behavior.
abstract: Neuroimaging techniques are increasingly used to characterize the neural circuitry mediating actions of inflammation on mood, motivation, and cognition and its relationship to common mental illnesses, particularly major depressive disorder (MDD). In addition, imaging techniques such as single photon emission tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can index effects of inflammation on specific neurotransmitters, monoamine transporters, metabolites and even activation of discrete cells such as microglia. The special named series 'Neuroimaging, inflammation and behavior' illustrates the power of neuroimaging techniques to characterize discrete actions of inflammation on the brain at neurochemical, cellular, regional and network levels. Combined with careful cognitive assessment and pre-clinical studies, diverse neuroimaging techniques are helping clarify the mechanisms through which inflammation acts on the brain to reorient behavior and predispose to mental and physical illnesses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK; Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK; Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton, UK. Electronic address: n.harrison@bsms.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Neil A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D059906:Neuroimaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Imaging; Inflammation; MRI; MRS; PET; SPECT