The Best Of Structural scans Showing what the

The Best Of

Structural scans: Showing what the brain “looks like. ”

Computers combine many X-ray images http: //neurocog. psy. tufts. edu/images/cat_scan. gif http: //www. postmortemstudiorental. com/images/x-ray/cat%20 scan%20 brain%209. JPG CAT/CT – Computerized Axial Tomography

Computers measure magnetic fields given off by various structures. http: //pharyngula. org/images/aspm-mri. jpg http: //gamma. wustl. edu/pt 089 mr 413. gif MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Functional scans: Showing how the brain “acts. ”

Measures and images brain activity by using subatomic particles and “guessing” where they’re going to go next. Uses radioactive glucose to chart activity. Often looks at tumors. http: //www. mssm. edu/psychiatry/images/petimg. gif PET – Positron Emission Tomography

Measures and images electrical discharges in the brain. http: //www. bsp. brain. riken. jp/Photos/EEG%20 Acquisition%20 -%20%2064 -Quick. Cap% http: //www. ant-software. nl/images/eeg-pain_small. gif EEG - Electroencephalogram

Measures and images the brain using repeated MRIs paired with radioactive chemicals, then “guesses” the brain’s activity using computer models. This is what “tapping an index finger” looks like on an f. MRI – functional MRI

Measures and images the brain using repeated MRIs paired with radioactive chemicals, then “guesses” the brain’s activity using computer models. f. MRI – functional MRI