brain function, discovery, imaging and pictures of it
Post on 23-Dec-2015
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Brain Function, Discovery, Imaging and Pictures of it
What I will attempt to cover• What different parts of the brain do• Different types of brain imaging– CT (Computed tomography)– MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging)– fMRI (Functional magnetic resonance imaging)
Brain structure
Medulla oblongata• Located at the base of the brain, at the top of the spinal cord• Automatically controls breathing rate and heart rate• Contains a number of centres:
– Vasomotor centre– Cardiac centre – Reflex centres
Brain structure
Cerebellum• Located under the cereberal hemispheres• Has a folded cortex• Coordinates movement and balance
Brain structure
Hypothalamus• Located in front of the brainstem, and beneath the centre of
the brain• Maintains body temperature (thermoregulation) as well as
thirst, fatigue and sleep• Responsible for linking the nervous and endocrine system
Brain structure
Cerebral Hemispheres• The largest part of the brain, divided into two halves• Highly folded tissue• Many different functions performed by the cereberal
hemispheres including learning, emotions and vision
CT Scans(Computed tomography)
MRI scan(Magnetic resonance imaging)
• Produces a high resolution image more suitable for investigating the soft tissue of the brain
• Cross sectional images of the brain can be generated by using a very strong electromagnet
• The brain can be seen in much more detail with an MRI scan than a CT scan and with an MRI scan, an MRI scan is also useful in medical diagnosis
fMRI scan
(Functional magnetic resonance imaging)
fMRI scan(Functional magnetic resonance imaging)
• The fMRI scan can show changes in brain activity as they occur. uniquely, an fMRI allows the conditions caused by abnormal activity to be studied
• The molecules in oxygenated blood respond in different way to a magnetic field than deoxygenated blood, the more active regions of the brain can be distinguished because there will be more oxygenated blood flowing there to supply oxygen, the scanner can detect different levels of oxygenation in the blood and create an image from where that blood is in the brain
Comparison of different scanning techniquesCT MRI fMRI
Detail good V.good V.good
Ionising? Yes, X-rays not good for you
No No
What can you see?
Brain structure but not function
Brain structure but not function
Structure and function
Cost and scan speed
Cheaper and faster than MRI
and fMRI
V.Expensive equipment and lengthy process
V.Expensive equipment and lengthy process
Advantages? Most useful in imaging bones, less so for soft
tissue
Best suited for imaging soft tissue, not
particularly handy for dense material
like bones
Most useful for monitoring brain activity; where
oxygenated blood is concentrated
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