Neuroimaging Flashcards
What are the various methods of neuroimaging?
1) PET
2) MRI
3) fMRI
4) EEG
5) CT/CAT
What is the difference between structural and functional scans?
Structural scans are related to the scanning bones, blood vessels and soft tissue
Functional show colour and change
What scans pick up functional aspects of the body?
PET scans and fMRI scans
What scans detect structural aspects of the body?
CT/CAT scans and MRI scans
What are EEG scans?
A monitoring method to record the electrical activity of the brain
Noninvasive, with electrodes placed along the scalp
Can detect very rapid changes in the electrical activity of the brain. (Stoke, brain tumors)
What are some disadvantages of EEG scans?
- have low spatial resolution, can’t detect where the waves are coming from and why
- expensive
What are PET scans?
- look like infrared photos
- Allows doctors to check body for diseases (brain disorders, cancer)
Uses special dye containing radioactive substances
Tracers collect in areas of high chemical activity, diseases have high chemical activity
What are some disadvantages of PET scans?
- risk from radioactive component, allergic reactions can occur
- expensive
What are MRI scans?
Strong magnetic fields and radio waves to generate images of the organs in the body
large cylindrical compartment
What are some disadvantages of MRI scans?
- expensive
- not suitable for claustrophobic patients
- slow
- noisy
- radio waves can cause cancer
What are CT/CAT scans?
X-ray + digital computer technology that can image every type of body structure at once including bone, blood vessel & soft tissue
What are some disadvantages of CT/CAT scans?
- High radiation can cause cancer
What are fMRI scans?
Measures brain activity by detecting changes with blood flow
When an area of the brain is in use, blood flows to that region
- if done correctly fMRI scans have virtually no risk
- more detailed than a CAT scan
What are some disadvantages of an fMRI scan?
- can’t detect brain cells
