Neuroimaging (Structural and Functional)

Question 1

X-Ray

Answer 1

A type of electromagnetic energy. Visible light bounces off us, and x-rays pass through us. Some parts of the body will absorb x-rays more than others, thus we get to see those parts of the body.

Question 2

Structural Imaging vs. Functional Imaging

Answer 2

Structural Imaging: Shows a static image in time, quantifies brain structure.
Functional imaging: Studies brain function, looks at changes/fluctuations in brain activity/metabolism/blood flow/etc.

Question 3

Cerebral Angiography

What is it? What does it help visualize? How often is it used? Structural or functional?

Answer 3

Cerebral angiography is a contrast technique (adding a dye) of taking x-rays. The dye absorbs the x-rays differently than everything else around it, so you can see blood vessels in the head when taking the x-ray.

It can help visualize stroke (artery blockage showing a branch as being ‘clipped off’, or you can see brain hemorrhage–a ‘cloud’ coming out of one of the arteries and going out to the brain)

Used in a pinch (but not super often anymore) because it’s easy to do in remote areas and such.

Classified as a structural image (static image in time/map).