Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography is a functional imaging technique that creates three-dimensional images of the brain on computer. This allows physicians to visualize blood flow through different areas of the brain. Individuals with epilepsy often have changes in blood flow to specific areas of the brain when a seizure begins. SPECT measures blood flow…

The Wada test, also known as the Intracarotid Amobarbital Procedure (IAP), was named after Dr. Juhn Wada. He developed the combination of neuro-imaging and neuropsychological testing methods to examine independent functions of the brain such as memory and language. It is useful in determining which hemisphere is “dominant” for speech and if memory is functional…

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a safe and non-invasive scanning technique. Instead of using X-rays, MRI is based on nuclear magnetic resonance. This means all atoms have nuclei with their own resonant frequency. If you disturb them, they sing like tuning forks. The different structural components of the brain have atoms with nuclei that have…

Positron Emission Tomography is a scanning technique which detects chemical and physiological changes related to metabolism. This procedure produces three-dimensional images of blood flow, chemical reactions and muscular activity in the body as they occur. It measures the intensity of the use (metabolization) of glucose, oxygen or other substances in the brain. More active brain…