A comprehensive overview of the neuroimaging techniques, how they work, their temporal&spatial resolution, and other characteristics, benefits and limitations. For me, this is part of the Experimentation II course at Leiden University, but the information is generally useful for everybody learning ...
-Name + abbreviation
-Useful for
-How does it broadly work?
-Temporal resolution
-Spatial resolution
-Does it detect subcortical structures?
-How invasive is it?
-How expensive is it?
-Benefits/advantages
-Limitations/disadvantages
, Method Useful for: How does it (broadly) work? Temporal Resolution Spatial Resolution
Electrodes pick up on neuronal action
Electroenchephalography (EEG) Function Excellent (<1ms) Bad
potentials
Records the magnetic field that is produced
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) Function Excellent (<1ms) Good
by electrical currents
Records the absorption of x-rays, producing a
Computed Tomography (CT) Structure Bad Good
3D image
Radioactive glucose is injected in the
bloodstream. Positron and gamma photons
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Structure are emitted during decay of the tracer. This is Very bad (30-40s) Medium (5-10mm)
measured to give insight into metabolic
processes.
Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) Structure Looks at a photon instead of positron. Bad Bad (1.5 cm)
Uses light to investigate cellular and
Optical Imaging Function Good Differs
molecular functioning.
Measures the absorption of infrared light in
the scalp. Gives an indication of neuronal
(functional) Near Infrared Spectoscopy (fNIRS) Function Bad (s) Bad (cm)
firing through the HRF (oxy-hemo absorbs
differently than deoxy-hemo)
Hydrogen protons align with the magnetic
field of the scanner. A radiofrequency pulse
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Structure pushes the protons 90 degrees. When they Bad Good
return to their original alignment, the MR
signal can be measured.
Look at the BOLD response, which indicates
neuronal activity through the HRF. Oxy-hemo
functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Function Bad (s) Good (mm)
causes less MR signal loss, thus higher MR
signals indicate more brain activity.
Structure Measures the diffusion of water molecules
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) (connectivity along myelinated white matter tracts and Bad Medium
) produces a 2D or 3D image of all the tracts.
Either working with humans who have
suffered a lesion, or creating a lesion in Differs
Lesion studies Function Bad
animals, to study the effect of the loss of a (animals/humans)
brain area.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Function A strong and focused magnetic pulse is
administered to the scalp, which induces
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