Neuroimaging or brain scanning includes the use of various techniques to either directly or indirectly image the structure, function, or pharmacology of the brain. Neuroimaging falls into two categories structural imaging and functional imaging.
Structural imaging deals with the structure of the brain and the diagnosis of large-scale intracranial disease such as tumor as well as an injury while functional imaging is used to diagnose metabolic disease and lesion on a finer scale such as Alzheimer's disease and also for neurological and cognitive psychology research (Gluck, Myers, and Mercado, 2016). This allows the brain's information processing to be visualized directly and it increases the metabolism of the brain.
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There various types of imaging tools such as Electroencephalography (EEG), Positron emission tomography (PET), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). But the two main of brain imaging tools are PET and fMRI scans. Positron emission tomography scan measures levels of the sugar glucose in the brain in order to illustrate where neural firing is taking place, whereas functional magnetic resonance imaging scans are series of MRIs measuring brain function via a computer’s combination of multiple images taken less than a second part.
FMRI has been more widely used than PET scans this is because FMRI has better temporal and spatial resolution compared to PET scans. Also, FRMI does not use radioactivity while the PET scan does use radioactivity. However, FMRI still retains some disadvantages in comparison to PET scans since the FMRI is so noisy and this is because it uses the MRI scanner and this might cause a distraction to the patient. Also, small movement can distort the signal being measured so you cannot speak while in the scanner since this can ruin fMRI data
PET scanning is disadvantaged compared to FMRI because the resolution of the scans is lower. PET scans can measure changes in blood flow in the brain, unlike FRMI which can lower down the blood flow making the machine more powerful. PET scanning is also much expensive than FMRI since it uses special machines such as radioactive isotopes and multiple trials to get a scan. Another disadvantage is that PET uses radioactive isotopes to work and these isotopes can be unsafe if given to the patient many times.
Both PET and FRMI scan are similar since both measure blood flows in the brain which is an indirect measure of brain activity. PET scans are most commonly used to detect cancer, heart problems, and brain disorders, including problems with the central nervous system (CNS) such as Alzheimer’s disease, depression, epilepsy, head trauma etc. The PET scan allows the doctor to check for a disease in a body since the scan uses a special dye containing a radioactive isotope. FMRI scan is used to get a pictures of the brain and to access what changes take place based on blood flow and this is because the scan uses a strong magnetic field and radio wave to create detailed images of the body
Reference
Mark A. Gluck, Catherine E. Myers, Eduardo Mercado, (2016). Learning and Memory : From Brain to Behavior
