Describe the techniques that scientists use to image or study the brain.?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

ANSWER:
Technique
Description
Aspect Measured
Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT Scan)
Multiple X-ray beams are passed through the brain from different angles. A computer then analyzes the X-rays that exit the head and uses this information to build a very detailed picture of the brain and its structures. CAT scans can be used to diagnose tumors, strokes, certain diseases, and the structural features of the brain.
Brain structures
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
A magnetic field is used to excite the atoms in the body, and the energy emitted by these atoms is used to construct a highly detailed computer-generated picture of the brain’s structure.
Brain structures
Positron Emission Tomography (PET Scan)
Radioactive glucose (the brain’s fuel source) is injected into the bloodstream. The computer measures which areas of the brain are consuming the most glucose, meaning that they are most active.
Areas of activity in the brain
Functional MRI (fMRI)
Uses MRI technology to track which neurons in the brain are most active at a given moment by examining the energy released by hemoglobin molecules in the bloodstream.
Areas of activity in the brain; brain structures
Electroencephalography (EEG)
Measures changes in electrical voltage at points along the scalp and yields information on gross patterns of brain activation.
Patterns of electrical activity in the lobes of the brain
Brain Stimulation
By stimulating specific areas of the brain, researchers can see what effect this stimulation has on behavior. Doctors also use this technology to treat conditions such as depression. By implanting brain “pacemakers,” doctors can stimulate areas of the brain that are not functioning properly.
Cognitive and behavioral reactions to stimulation of brain locations