Context:
Recently, Scientists have successfully mapped brain activity using ultrasound technology.
More on the news
- The research team includes scholars and neurosurgeons from the California Institute of Technology, and the University of Southern California.
- Scholars developed a method to observe the brain intricacies with unprecedented clarity.
- They achieved this by installing an ‘acoustically transparent’ window into the skull of a volunteer, which allowed them to use functional ultrasound imaging to capture the brain’s activity.
- The ultrasound waves passed through the window in his skull, bounced off the brain tissues, and returned to the probe, providing a real-time map of blood flow and neuronal activity
- The focus of the study was on the posterior parietal cortex and the motor cortex regions known for their role in coordinating movement.
- Researchers could indirectly track the activity of brain cells by assessing changes in blood volumes within these areas.
- Active neurons demand more oxygen and nutrients, which are delivered via increased blood flow.
Significance of the Ultrasound technology
- It provides a less invasive alternative to the current brain mapping method, which often requires more intrusive procedures.
- It opens possibilities for better understanding neurological conditions and developing more effective treatments.
- It provides the ability to monitor brain activity in real time, and outside medical facilities offer a new avenue for neuroscience research.
Traditional brain imaging technologies
- Computed Tomography (CT)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan