Brain Energy Metabolism

All the cellular processes supporting brain functions require energy. Careful consideration of brain energy metabolism is an essential prerequisite to a full understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of brain functions. One of the main features of brain energy metabolism is its dependence on glucose metabolism. Brain energy metabolism is characterized by a complex interplay between different neural cell types. In this chapter the features of brain energy metabolism are reviewed at the global, regional, and cellular levels. Recent advances in the understanding of neuro-glial metabolic cooperation are extensively reviewed. A particular focus has been placed on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that tightly couple neuronal activity to energy consumption-a process that is at the basis of functional brain-imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).