Lecture

Observing the Brain: Neuroimaging Basics

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Description

This lecture covers the basics of neuroimaging, focusing on the main instruments used to study human brains in vivo, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalography (EEG). It delves into the different spatial scales of brain networks, the techniques to build brain network maps, and the functional and structural connectivity of the brain. The lecture also explores the history of network neuroscience, the challenges of defining nodes in the human brain, and the physics behind MRI. Additionally, it discusses the functional connectivity through fMRI and EEG/MEG, as well as brain stimulation techniques like TMS/EEG. The key takeaway emphasizes the importance of understanding the data at different scales and the limitations of connectome mapping.

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Biology

Neuroscience: Computational neuroscience

Related concepts (32)

Functional neuroimaging

Functional neuroimaging is the use of neuroimaging technology to measure an aspect of brain function, often with a view to understanding the relationship between activity in certain brain areas and specific mental functions. It is primarily used as a research tool in cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, and social neuroscience.

Connective tissue

Connective tissue is one of the four primary types of animal tissue, along with epithelial tissue, muscle tissue, and nervous tissue. It develops from the mesenchyme, derived from the mesoderm, the middle embryonic germ layer. Connective tissue is found in between other tissues everywhere in the body, including the nervous system. The three meninges, membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord, are composed of connective tissue. Most types of connective tissue consists of three main components: elastic and collagen fibers, ground substance, and cells.

Brain connectivity estimators

Brain connectivity estimators represent patterns of links in the brain. Connectivity can be considered at different levels of the brain's organisation: from neurons, to neural assemblies and brain structures. Brain connectivity involves different concepts such as: neuroanatomical or structural connectivity (pattern of anatomical links), functional connectivity (usually understood as statistical dependencies) and effective connectivity (referring to causal interactions).

Split-brain

Split-brain or callosal syndrome is a type of disconnection syndrome when the corpus callosum connecting the two hemispheres of the brain is severed to some degree. It is an association of symptoms produced by disruption of, or interference with, the connection between the hemispheres of the brain. The surgical operation to produce this condition (corpus callosotomy) involves transection of the corpus callosum, and is usually a last resort to treat refractory epilepsy.

Neuroimaging

Neuroimaging is the use of quantitative (computational) techniques to study the structure and function of the central nervous system, developed as an objective way of scientifically studying the healthy human brain in a non-invasive manner. Increasingly it is also being used for quantitative research studies of brain disease and psychiatric illness. Neuroimaging is highly multidisciplinary involving neuroscience, computer science, psychology and statistics, and is not a medical specialty.

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