brain imaging


brain imaging

Any technique which permits in vivo visualisation of the central nervous system—e.g., CT, PET, MRI—yielding a series of 2-D images/cross-sections of brain regions of interest, which may be manipulated by computer to generate 3-D simulations; other techniques—e.g., ultrasound, angiography, radionuclide scans, regional cerebral blood flow (RCBF) measurements, brain electrical activity mapping (BEAM) and its variants, and even the now-obsolete pneumoencephalogram—provide images of aspects of the CNS, but are limited in the structures visualised or degree of resolution, or other parameters.

brain imaging

Imaging Any technique that permits the in vivo visualization of the substance of the CNS–eg, CT, PET, MRI, yielding a series of 2-D images/“slices” of brain regions of interest which may be manipulated by computer to generate 3-D simulations; other techniques–eg, ultrasound, angiography, radionuclide scans, regional cerebral blood flow measurements, brain electrical activity mapping and its variants, and even the now-obsolete pneumoencephalogram provide images of aspects of the CNS, but are limited in the structures visualized or degree of resolution, or other parameters. See PET-CT scan.

brain imaging

The demonstration of details of brain structure by such means as X-rays, ANGIOGRAPHY, DIGITAL SUBTRACTION ANGIOGRAPHY, CT SCANNING, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET) scanning.