Imaging

Question 1

CT Scan

Answer 1

• Basically, an X-ray; gross anatomical imaging of brain and skull; not as precise and detailed as an MRI
  “Blood Can Be Very Bad”: Blood, Cistern(fluid accumulation), Brain, Ventricles, Bone- big problems
• Structural

Question 2

MRI

Answer 2

-Detailed information about soft tissue; can look at tumors
- Structural

Question 3

fMRI

Answer 3

-Imaging that shows specific areas of the brain; n-back task can be used
- Functional
- Detecting the changes in blood oxygenation and flow that occur in response to neural activity

Question 4

DTI

Answer 4

-Extension of MRI: fiber tracts- fluid flow
Used to map and characterize the three-dimensional diffusion of water as a function of spatial location; integrity of axons
- Structural
-Used to estimate white matter connectivity patterns- flow of fluid within the axons; how uniformly the water molecules are traveling down the axon

Question 5

Nuclear Medicine

Answer 5

-Radioactive tracers to see where brain activity is
PET & SPECT: use different traces but doing the same thing- radioactive tracers
- Functional

Question 6

FNIRRS

Answer 6

-Neural activity by concentration of hemoglobin
-Functional
-Least invasive and involved

Question 7

DTI: FA

Answer 7

-fractional anisotropy- how consistently the water molecules are moving in the same direction- want a high value (1)

Question 8

DTI:MD

Answer 8

Mean Diffusivity- going everywhere- want a low value- if high value probably a breakdown in the myelin

Question 9

DTI: AD

Answer 9

Axial Diffusivity- water molecules traveling along the axon- want a low value

Question 10

DTI: RD

Answer 10

Radial Diffusivity: water molecules are perpendicular to the axon (different direction)- want a low value