Brain Imaging: Observing Ongoing Neural Activity

Gregory J DiGirolamo, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
Neha Patel, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
Brian Becker, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

Published online: March 2009

DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0000024.pub2

The neuroimaging techniques available to observe ongoing brain activity during human cognition include functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), event-related potentials (ERPs), magnetoencephalography (MEG) and event-related optical signaling (EROS). Additionally, brain activity can be disrupted temporarily via transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Using these neuroimaging methods, both spatial and temporal precision are attainable in describing the underlying neural substrates that comprise human cognition. Great progress has been made in understanding the physiological basis of human thought with many exciting new frontiers opening up including understanding the genetics of human cognition and the neural basis of consciousness.

Keywords: functional brain mapping; functional magnetic resonance imaging; positron emission tomography; haemodynamic response; cognitive neuroscience

Figure 1. Structural image of the human brain showing the anatomical detail possible with magnetic resonance imaging.
Figure 2. The resulting images from positron emission tomography in which the shading represents activation of brain regions superimposed on anatomical images. This example shows the network of brain regions involved when subjects generate a semantic association, for example, they see the word ‘oven’ and say ‘bake’.
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Organisation of the Nervous System
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Article Title: Brain Imaging: Observing Ongoing Neural Activity
 
How to Cite close
DiGirolamo, Gregory J, Patel, Neha, and Becker, Brian(Mar 2009) Brain Imaging: Observing Ongoing Neural Activity. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0000024.pub2]