Brain Scanning Techniques

Brain Scanning Techniques

A look inside the BrainA look inside the Brain

Neurology is a very new part of Psychology.

Neuroscientists must use many specialized techniques to look into the brain.

Neurology is a very new part of Psychology.

Neuroscientists must use many specialized techniques to look into the brain.

Ways to Look Inside the Brain

Ways to Look Inside the Brain

Electric RecordingsLesioningElectrical Stimulation of the BrainBrain-Imaging Procedures

CT ScanPET ScanMRI ScanfMRI Scan

Electric RecordingsLesioningElectrical Stimulation of the BrainBrain-Imaging Procedures

CT ScanPET ScanMRI ScanfMRI Scan

Electrical RecordingsElectrical Recordings

Recordings of the electrical activity in the brain

Electroencephalograph (EEG) -a device that monitors the electrical activity of the brain over time by means of recording electrodes attached to the surface of the scalpIdentifies patterns of activity

Recordings of the electrical activity in the brain

Electroencephalograph (EEG) -a device that monitors the electrical activity of the brain over time by means of recording electrodes attached to the surface of the scalpIdentifies patterns of activity

EEG HookupEEG Hookup

EEG ReadingsEEG Readings

LesioningLesioning

Involves destroying a piece of the brain

Done by inserting an electrode into a brain structure and by using a high-frequency electric current through it to burn the tissue

Involves destroying a piece of the brain

Done by inserting an electrode into a brain structure and by using a high-frequency electric current through it to burn the tissue

Electrical Stimulation Electrical Stimulation

Involves sending a weak electrical current into a brain structure to activate it

Most of this type of research is done with animals, however, recently it has been done on humans for medical purposes

Involves sending a weak electrical current into a brain structure to activate it

Most of this type of research is done with animals, however, recently it has been done on humans for medical purposes

Brain-Imaging ProceduresBrain-Imaging Procedures

These are the newest and most useful techniques in brain exploration

Have led to spectacular advances in science

We can now look at not only the STRUCTURE but also the FUNCTION of the parts of the brain

These are the newest and most useful techniques in brain exploration

Have led to spectacular advances in science

We can now look at not only the STRUCTURE but also the FUNCTION of the parts of the brain

CT ScansCT Scans

Stands for Computerized Tomography

Computer-enhanced X-ray

Shot from many angles

Stands for Computerized Tomography

Computer-enhanced X-ray

Shot from many angles

CT Scan Migraine Headache

CT Scan Migraine Headache

PET ScansPET Scans

Positron Emission TomographyThis kind of imaging explores the

function and maps actual activity in the brain

Done by injecting radioactive chemicals into body - serving as a marker for blood flow in the brain

Positron Emission TomographyThis kind of imaging explores the

function and maps actual activity in the brain

Done by injecting radioactive chemicals into body - serving as a marker for blood flow in the brain

Examples of PET ScansExamples of PET Scans

MRI ScanMRI Scan

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Uses magnetic fields, radio waves, and computerized enhancement to map out brain structure

Provide much better images than CT Scans

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Uses magnetic fields, radio waves, and computerized enhancement to map out brain structure

Provide much better images than CT Scans

MRI Normal BrainMRI Normal Brain

CT vs. MRICT vs. MRI

fMRI ScansfMRI Scans

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Several new variations to MRI scansMonitor blood and oxygen flow in the

brain to identify areas of high activityFunctional and structural information

in the same imageRed/Orange - High ActivityBlue/Black - Low Activity

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Several new variations to MRI scansMonitor blood and oxygen flow in the

brain to identify areas of high activityFunctional and structural information

in the same imageRed/Orange - High ActivityBlue/Black - Low Activity

fMRI Scan ExamplesfMRI Scan Examples

Examples of Brain Scans from Real People

Examples of Brain Scans from Real People

Normal BrainNormal Brain

Normal Aging - 76 yr. oldNormal Aging - 76 yr. old

Chronic Subdural Hematoma

Chronic Subdural Hematoma

Chronic Subdural Hematoma Function

Chronic Subdural Hematoma Function

Glioma (Low Grade Brain Tumor)

Glioma (Low Grade Brain Tumor)

Glioma FunctionGlioma Function

Metastatic Adenocarcinoma

Metastatic Adenocarcinoma

Cerebral HemorrhageCerebral Hemorrhage

Fatal StrokeFatal Stroke

MALIGNANT (WHO Grade 3 of 3)

OLIGODENDROGLIOMA

MALIGNANT (WHO Grade 3 of 3)

OLIGODENDROGLIOMA

This teenager presented to an Emergency Department with progressive headaches, vomiting, and memory impairment. A. MRI scan of the brain showed a very large and

infiltrative brain tumor (T; white and grey areas in red circle) located in the "dominant" temporal lobe, with considerable brain swelling (oedema). It was causing life-threatening compression of the brainstem (green arrow head). The mass encroaches upon regions serving memory & learning, hearing and language, field of vision, and limb movement,

B. The boy's preoperative imaging included MR tractography, in order to assess the proximity of the tumor to his critical "limb movement" and "visual field" pathways deep within the brain.

C. The boy was taken to the operating room, and while awake and comfortable ("awake craniotomy"), the tumor (T) was nearly totally removed while his language and movement functions were repetitively assessed in real-time by the anaesthetic team during the surgery. The tumor was infiltrative and malignant (a brain cancer) and therefore every tumor cell could not be removed surgically.

D. However, the postoperative MRI scan showed near-complete removal of the tumor mass (now just a surgical cavity outlined by the red circle). The is no longer any compression of the brainstem (green arrow head). The child's symptoms all resolved, he was completely neurologically intact within a few days of surgery, and he returned to school within a few weeks of completing post-operative brain radiotherapy.

This teenager presented to an Emergency Department with progressive headaches, vomiting, and memory impairment. A. MRI scan of the brain showed a very large and

infiltrative brain tumor (T; white and grey areas in red circle) located in the "dominant" temporal lobe, with considerable brain swelling (oedema). It was causing life-threatening compression of the brainstem (green arrow head). The mass encroaches upon regions serving memory & learning, hearing and language, field of vision, and limb movement,

B. The boy's preoperative imaging included MR tractography, in order to assess the proximity of the tumor to his critical "limb movement" and "visual field" pathways deep within the brain.

C. The boy was taken to the operating room, and while awake and comfortable ("awake craniotomy"), the tumor (T) was nearly totally removed while his language and movement functions were repetitively assessed in real-time by the anaesthetic team during the surgery. The tumor was infiltrative and malignant (a brain cancer) and therefore every tumor cell could not be removed surgically.

D. However, the postoperative MRI scan showed near-complete removal of the tumor mass (now just a surgical cavity outlined by the red circle). The is no longer any compression of the brainstem (green arrow head). The child's symptoms all resolved, he was completely neurologically intact within a few days of surgery, and he returned to school within a few weeks of completing post-operative brain radiotherapy.

The Newest Brain Scanning Technique

The Newest Brain Scanning Technique

MagnetoEncephalography - an imaging technique used to measure the

magnetic fields produced by electrical activity in the brain via extremely sensitive devices such as superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). MEG offers a very direct measurement neural electrical activity The advantage of measuring the magnetic fields produced by neural activity is that they are not distorted by surrounding tissue, unlike the electric fields measured by EEG (particularly the skull and scalp).

MagnetoEncephalography - an imaging technique used to measure the

magnetic fields produced by electrical activity in the brain via extremely sensitive devices such as superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). MEG offers a very direct measurement neural electrical activity The advantage of measuring the magnetic fields produced by neural activity is that they are not distorted by surrounding tissue, unlike the electric fields measured by EEG (particularly the skull and scalp).