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Methods of Investigating Brain and Language

The document summarizes various traditional and high-tech methods for investigating the brain and language. Traditional methods include post-mortem examination of patients who had language disorders, examining language in brain-injured patients, and using electrical stimulation during brain surgery. High-tech methods discussed include CAT scans, PET scans, MRI/fMRI, event-related potentials measured by EEG/MEG. These techniques are used to examine brain anatomy, map functions like language and movement, diagnose conditions, and guide treatments.

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kiranjit_123
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414 views

Methods of Investigating Brain and Language

The document summarizes various traditional and high-tech methods for investigating the brain and language. Traditional methods include post-mortem examination of patients who had language disorders, examining language in brain-injured patients, and using electrical stimulation during brain surgery. High-tech methods discussed include CAT scans, PET scans, MRI/fMRI, event-related potentials measured by EEG/MEG. These techniques are used to examine brain anatomy, map functions like language and movement, diagnose conditions, and guide treatments.

Uploaded by

kiranjit_123
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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METHODS OF

INVESTIGATING BRAIN
AND LANGUAGE
1. Traditional Methods
2. High-Tech Methods

1. Traditional Methods
Post
Mortem
Examinati
on
Used by Broca
to examine the
brain of
patients who
faced language
disorders while
they are alive.

BrainInjured
People
Investigating
the language
use by braininjured
patients who
have brain
operation.
- The patients
might need to
remove a part
of their brain
due to illness
or accident.

Electrical
stimulatio
n
- Electrical
stimulation of
the cerebral
cortex in
patients who
are conscious
during the
brain
operation.
- This method
is established
by Penfield in
the 1950s.

CAT

PET

2.
HighTech
Metho
ds

ERPs

MRI
and
fMRI

Computerized Axial Tomography


(CAT)

Is a painless test that uses a special X-ray machine to take pictures of a


patient's brain, skull, and sinuses, as well as blood vessels in the head.
The doughnut-shaped machine circles the head, taking pictures to
provide cross-sections of the brain from various angles. These pictures
are sent to a computer that records the images. It also can put them
together to form three-dimensional images.
In preparation for a CT scan, patients are often asked to avoid food,
especially when contrast material is to be used. Contrast material may be
injected intravenously, or administered by mouth or by an enema in order
to increase the distinction between various organs or areas of the body.
Patients are placed on a movable table, and the table is slipped into the
center of a large donut-shaped machine which takes the X-ray images
around the body.
The actual procedure can take from half an hour to an hour and a half.

A head CAT scan may be done in order to:


detect conditions in the brain such as hydrocephalus (too much fluid in
the ventricles), swelling, inflammation, bleeding, and signs of injury.
gather information about the presence, location, and size of abscesses,
cysts, and tumors.
locate birth defects in the brain and skull.
evaluate the pituitary gland, pineal gland, and sinuses.
look at malformed or injured blood vessels in the head.
find the cause of headaches, weakness, or a change in mental status.

Cranial CAT
sCAN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx-0emi4m8s

Positron Emission Tomography


(PET)
An imaging technique which uses
small amounts of radio labeled
biologically active compounds (tracers) to help in the diagnosis of
disease.
The tracers are introduced into the body, by either injection or inhalation
of a gas, and a PET scanner is used to produce an image showing the
distribution of the tracer in the body using the PET scanner a
doughnut-like shaped machine.
This machine detects and records the energy given off by the tracer
substance and, with the aid of a computer, this energy is converted into
three-dimensional pictures.
The actual procedure can take an hour and a half

PET and PET/CT scans are performed to:


detect cancer.
determine whether a cancer has spread in the body.
assess the effectiveness of a treatment plan, such as cancer therapy.
determine if a cancer has returned after treatment.
evaluate brain abnormalities, such as tumors, memory disorders and
seizures and other central nervous system disorders.
to map normal human brain and heart function.

PET scan of the


human brain
Image of a typical positron emission tomography
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9iOxMFmPlA&feature=related

Magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI)

Types of MRI:
1)Structural MRI (MRI)
2)Functional MRI (FMRI )
Uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed images of the brain
and the brain stem.
An MRI scanner consists of a large doughnut-shaped magnet that often has a
tunnel in the center. Patients are placed on a table that slides into the tunnel.
MRI is the most frequently used imaging test of the brain and spinal cord. It's
often performed to help diagnose:
Aneurysms
Disorders of the eye and inner ear
Multiple sclerosis
Spinal cord injuries
Stroke
Tumors

fMRI is perform to:


examine the anatomy of the brain.
determine precisely which part of the brain is handling critical functions such
as thought, speech, movement and sensation, which is called brain mapping
help assess the effects of stroke, trauma or degenerative disease (such as
Alzheimer's) on brain function.
monitor the growth and function of brain tumors.
guide the planning of surgery, radiation therapy, or other surgical treatments
for the brain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZTXa4qerI4&feature=related

Event-related potentials
An event-related potential (ERP) is the measured brain
response that is the direct result of a specific sensory,
cognitive , or motor event.
ERPs are measured with:
1. Electroencephalography (EEG)
2. Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

Electroencephalography (EEG)
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test used to detect
abnormalities related
to electrical activity of the brain.
An electroencephalogram (EEG) may be done to:
Diagnose epilepsy and see what type of seizures are occurring. EEG is the
most useful and important test in confirming a diagnosis of epilepsy.
Check for problems with loss of consciousness or dementia.
Help find out a person's chance of recovery after a change in consciousness.
Find out if a person who is in a coma is brain-dead.
Study sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy.
Watch brain activity while a person is receiving general anesthesia during
brain surgery.
Help find out if a person has a physical problem (problems in the brain, spinal
cord, or nervous system ) or a mental health problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q57q_kQPQY&feature=related

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a technique for mapping brain


activity by recording magnetic fields produced by electrical currents
occurring naturally in the brain, using very sensitive magnetometers.

Clinically, MEG may be used to detect and localize spiking activity in


patients with epilepsy and in localizing brain regions involved in sensory
processing and linguistic ability in surgical planning.

In research, MEG is primarily used in the measurement of time courses of


activity because of its high temporal resolution. MEG enables accurate
pinpointing of sources in primary auditory, somatosensory and motor areas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=KoS2UXr0yMg&feature=player_detailpage

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