MRI-mapping the human brain electronically

Abstract

Introduction Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been established for over a decade as a superior research and clinical modality for anatomical imaging. Noteworthy for exceptionally good sub-millimeter spatial and sub-second temporal resolution, MRI is now demonstrating the potential of tracing the links between tissue function, metabolism, blood flow and hemodynamics in both normal and disease states. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can utilize conventional MRI technology and equipment to image the intrinsic hemodynamic and metabolic changes that may occur in human cognitive functions such as vision, motor skills, language, memory and indeed in all mental processes. These techniques have also revolutionized detection of disease states such as stroke. MRI can within minutes acquire functional images non-invasively from an individual in any plane or volume at comparatively high-resolutions and then overlay observed functional centers of activation onto the underlying cerebral anatomy, imaged with the same MRI scanner. FMRl is rapidly evolving beyond the localization of visual, motor, and somatosensory responses to use in resective surgery of tumors, localization of "handedness", and elucidation of brain function and metabolism altered by pathologies such as stroke. Given the large number of clinical MRI scanners operating worldwide, fMRl will give rise to routine clinical assessment of brain and organ function, in addition to the anatomical imaging roles of present-day MRI.