HealthAugust 4, 2026

positron

POZ-uh-tron

Definition

A subatomic particle with a positive charge, used in medical imaging technology to detect functional and chemical processes within the body.

Etymology

Coined in 1930 by combining the word 'positive' with the suffix '-tron,' which is used for subatomic particles.

In the news

The article discusses positron emission tomography (PET), a scanning technology that uses these particles to visualize protein buildup in the living brain to diagnose the biological causes of psychosis.

Brain PET Scans Link Late-Onset Psychosis to Tau and Amyloid

Read the full article ↗

Neuroscience News

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