Neuroscience for Kids

Brain Imaging

Recent technology has enabled neuroscientists to see inside the living brain. These brain imaging methods help neuroscientists:
Understand the relationships between specific areas of the brain and what function they serve.
Locate the areas of the brain that are affected by neurological disorders.
Develop new strategies to treat brain disorders.

Procedure Method

Computed Tomography Scan
(CT Scan)

Image courtesy of the Yousef Mohammad, M.D., MSc; Assistant Professor of Neurology Division of Cerebrovascular Diseases, The Ohio State University Medical Center
CT scans use a series of X-ray beams passed through the head. The images are then developed on sensitive film. This method creates cross-sectional images of the brain and shows the structure of the brain, but not its function.
Positron Emission Tomography
(PET)

Image courtesy of the National Institute on Drug Abuse
A scanner detects radioactive material that is injected or inhaled to produce an image of the brain. Commonly used radioactively-labeled material includes oxygen, fluorine, carbon and nitrogen. When this material gets into the bloodstream, it goes to areas of the brain that use it. So, oxygen and glucose accumulate in brain areas that are metabolically active. When the radioactive material breaks down, it gives off a neutron and a positron. When a positron hits an electron, both are destroyed and two gamma rays are released. Gamma ray detectors record the brain area where the gamma rays are emitted. This method provides a functional view of the brain.
Advantages:

Provides an image of brain activity.
Disadvantages:

Expensive to use.
Radioactive material used.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(MRI)
MRI uses the detection of radio frequency signals produced by displaced radio waves in a magnetic field. It provides an anatomical view of the brain.
Advantages:

No X-rays or radioactive material is used.
Provides detailed view of the brain in different dimensions.
Safe, painless, non-invasive.
No special preparation (except the removal of all metal objects) is required from the patient. Patients can eat or drink anything before the procedure.
Disadvantages:

Expensive to use.
Cannot be used in patients with metallic devices, like pacemakers.
Cannot be used with uncooperative patients because the patient must lie still.
Cannot be used with patients who are claustrophobic (afraid of small places). However, new MRI systems with a more open design are now available.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(fMRI) Functional MRI detects changes in blood flow to particular areas of the brain. It provides both an anatomical and a functional view of the brain.
Angiography Angiography involves a series of X-rays after dye is injected into the blood. This method provides an image of the blood vessels of the brain.

Procedure	Method
Computed Tomography Scan (CT Scan) Image courtesy of the Yousef Mohammad, M.D., MSc; Assistant Professor of Neurology Division of Cerebrovascular Diseases, The Ohio State University Medical Center	CT scans use a series of X-ray beams passed through the head. The images are then developed on sensitive film. This method creates cross-sectional images of the brain and shows the structure of the brain, but not its function.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Image courtesy of the National Institute on Drug Abuse	A scanner detects radioactive material that is injected or inhaled to produce an image of the brain. Commonly used radioactively-labeled material includes oxygen, fluorine, carbon and nitrogen. When this material gets into the bloodstream, it goes to areas of the brain that use it. So, oxygen and glucose accumulate in brain areas that are metabolically active. When the radioactive material breaks down, it gives off a neutron and a positron. When a positron hits an electron, both are destroyed and two gamma rays are released. Gamma ray detectors record the brain area where the gamma rays are emitted. This method provides a functional view of the brain. Advantages: Provides an image of brain activity. Disadvantages: Expensive to use. Radioactive material used.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)	MRI uses the detection of radio frequency signals produced by displaced radio waves in a magnetic field. It provides an anatomical view of the brain. Advantages: No X-rays or radioactive material is used. Provides detailed view of the brain in different dimensions. Safe, painless, non-invasive. No special preparation (except the removal of all metal objects) is required from the patient. Patients can eat or drink anything before the procedure. Disadvantages: Expensive to use. Cannot be used in patients with metallic devices, like pacemakers. Cannot be used with uncooperative patients because the patient must lie still. Cannot be used with patients who are claustrophobic (afraid of small places). However, new MRI systems with a more open design are now available.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)	Functional MRI detects changes in blood flow to particular areas of the brain. It provides both an anatomical and a functional view of the brain.
Angiography	Angiography involves a series of X-rays after dye is injected into the blood. This method provides an image of the blood vessels of the brain.

Here are some examples of using a combination of PET and MRI techniques:

Thalamus Cortex
These 2 images show the averaged data from 14 subjects who received a painful injection of the chemical capsaicin into the upper arm. The colored part of the images show increased blood flow (the PET) to the thalamus and primary somatosensory cortex after the injection. The gray areas of the images (the MRI) show the brain anatomy. So using this method can identify the areas of the brain that are active during specific conditions. This technique could be used to study just about any other cognitive function.
(These two PET/MRI images were provided by Dr. Robert C. Coghill at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
PET alone is also used to study different cognitive functions.

For more details about MRI:

Play the MRI Game
Patients Guide to Medical Imaging
MRI Tutorial - Medline Plus (requires FLASH)
Basics of Brain Imaging - from the National Institute on Drug Abuse
Basics of MRI
Brain Imaging - interview with Dr. Michael Posner
Brain imaging demonstrations - from the Montreal Neurological Institute
Brain Imaging from the Society for Neuroscience

For details about functional magnetic resonance imaging:

For details about PET:

PET Examples

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