Assignment # 1

Subject: Behavioural Neuroscience

Topic: MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Submitted by: Minah Shah, Rida Naseem, Warda khan

Hanya khan, Habiba Riaz.

Class: B.S (IV) – Psychology

Submitted to: Ma’am Raeesa Arshad

Date: 2nd April 2020

 Physiological measures:
Definition:
“Any set of instruments that convey precise information about an individual’s bodily
functions, such as heart rate, skin conductance, skin temperature, cortisol level, palmar sweat,
and eye tracking.”

Explanation:
Physiological measurement deals with the measurements made to assess how well the body
functions. Physiological measurements may be very simple, such as the measurement of body
temperature with a clinical thermometer, or they may be more complicated, for example
measuring how well the heart is functioning by taking an ECG (electrocardiograph.). When
physiological measurement is carried out in a hospital for diagnosis of disease or for
controlling treatment it may be called Clinical Measurement instead.

Who needs physiological measurement?

Physiological measurements are taken in a wide variety of medical situations with many
patients benefiting. These patients include those with heart, bladder, hearing or sight
problems or those with breathing and sleep disorders. Patients requiring monitoring during
operations, or blood flow or brain activity measurements also benefit from the work of
physiological measurement specialists.

Significance of physiological measurement in neuroscience:

Psychophysiological measures:

Psychophysiological measures assess the interaction between psychological and physical

states using a variety of instruments in both laboratory and naturalistic settings. e.g EEG.

Types of physiological measures:

There are many types of physiological measures.

EEG (Electroencephalogram):
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test used to evaluate the electrical activity in the brain.
Brain cells communicate with each other through electrical impulses. An EEG can be used to
detect potential problems associated with this activity.
An EEG is used to detect problems in the electrical activity of the brain that may be
associated with certain brain disorders. The measurements given by an EEG are used to
confirm or rule out various conditions, including:

 seizure disorders (such as epilepsy)

 head injury
 encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
 brain tumour
 encephalopathy (disease that causes brain dysfunction)
 memory problems
 sleep disorders
 stroke
 dementia

When someone is in a coma, an EEG may be performed to determine the level of brain
activity. The test can also be used to monitor activity during brain surgery.

ECG (Electrocardiogram):

An ECG (electrocardiogram) records the electrical activity of your heart at rest. It provides
information about your heart rate and rhythm, and shows if there is enlargement of the heart
due to high blood pressure (hypertension) or evidence of a previous heart attack (myocardial
infarction). However, it does not show whether you have asymptomatic blockages in your
heart arteries or predict your risk of a future heart attack. The resting ECG is different from a
stress or exercise ECG or cardiac imaging test. You may need an ECG test if you have risk
factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure, or symptoms such as palpitations or
chest pain. Or you may need it if you already have heart disease.
CTSCAN:

A CT scan (also known as C.A.T. scan, which stands for Computerized Axial Tomography)
is a special kind of X-ray that can produce 3D pictures of a cross-section of a part of the body
.It's computerized, meaning a computer makes the picture. It involves tomography, from the
Greek word "tomos," meaning "slice" or "section," and "graphia," meaning "recording. CT
scans are a valuable diagnostic tool. They are able to detect some conditions that
conventional X-rays cannot because CT scans can show a 3D view of the section of the body
being studied. CT scans are also useful for monitoring a patient's progress during or after
treatment.

MRI:

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It is a painless diagnostic procedure which
allows physicians to see detailed images of the internal structures of your body without using
X-rays. It uses a large magnet, radio waves and a computer to scan your body. This
technology is important because MRI scans illustrate more clearly than ever before, the
difference between healthy and diseased tissue, and can provide important information about
the brain, spine, joints and internal organs. It can lead to early detection and treatment of
disease and has no known side effects. Consequently, your physician will be better able to
determine the most appropriate treatment for you.

PETSCAN:

A positron emission tomography, also known as a PET scan, uses radiation to show activity
within the body on a cellular level. It is most commonly used in cancer treatment, neurology,
and cardiology. Combined with a CT or MRI scan, a PET scan can produce
multidimensional, colour images of the inside workings of the human body. It shows not only
what an organ looks like, but how it is functioning. A PET scan is used to diagnose certain
health conditions, to plan treatment, to find out how an existing condition is developing, and
to see how effective a treatment is. PET scans demonstrate the physical state and function of
organs.

FMRI

FMRI is a new, revolutionary, non-invasive method to study and map the functions of the
brain. Pre-operational fMRI provides important functional information for neurosurgical
planning, helping the neurosurgeon avoid critical areas.

GSR:

The galvanic skin response (GSR, which falls under the umbrella term of electrodermal
activity, or EDA) refers to changes in sweat gland activity that are reflective of the intensity
of our emotional state, otherwise known as emotional arousal.

POLYGRAPH:

A polygraph, popularly referred to as a lie detector test, is a device or procedure that

measures and records several physiological indicators such as blood
pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while a person is asked and answers a
series of questions. The belief underpinning the use of the polygraph is that deceptive
answers will produce physiological responses that can be differentiated from those associated
with non-deceptive answers. There are, however, no specific physiological reactions
associated with lying, making it difficult to identify factors that separate liars from truth
tellers. Polygraph examiners also prefer to use their own individual scoring method, as
opposed to computerized techniques, as they may more easily defend their own evaluations. 

(MRI)Magnetic Resonance Imaging:

MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging, a non-invasive diagnostic technique that uses
radio waves rather than x-rays to create images. It is particularly useful for imaging of soft
tissues such as the brain, spinal cord, muscles and ligaments and detecting abnormal tissues
such as tumours.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) currently is the most versatile and informative imaging
modality for the CNS.

While an x-ray is very good at showing bones, an MRI lets the radiologist see structures
made of soft tissue such as ligaments and cartilage and organs such as your eyes, brain and
heart.

Uses of MRI:

 MRI of the brain and spinal cord looks for:

 Blood vessel damage
 Brain injury
 Cancer
 Multiple sclerosis
 Spinal cord injuries
 Stroke

 MRI of the heart and blood vessels looks for:

 Blocked blood vessels

  Damage caused by a heart attack
 Heart disease
 Problems with the structure of the heart

MRI of the bones and joints looks for:

 Bone infections
 Cancer
 Damage to joints
 Disc problems in the spine
 Neck or low back pain with nerve signs

MRIs can also be done to check the health of these organs:

 Breasts (women)
 Liver
 Kidneys
 Ovaries (women)
 Pancreas
 Prostate (men)

How does MRI work?

An MRI scanner is a cylindrical machine, used to get images of the human body. An MRI
machine consists of a round tunnel within which the patient lies on a narrow table.
Surrounding the tube is a large cylindrical magnet. During an MRI scan, the patient is within
a stable magnetic field that is 10,000–30,000 times stronger than the Earth’s magnetic field.

Protons are tiny particles that are present in water molecules throughout the body. These are
aligned by the incredibly strong magnetic field, noting that there are no water molecules in
the human skeleton, only in bodily tissue. Radio waves are transmitted in pulses, and these
protons produce echoes that are emitted out of the body. These echoes are received by the
MRI scanner, and are then reconstructed into images of the body by a computer. The images
are very precise and give a clear anatomical view of the body from any angle.

A radiologist, who is a physician experienced in MRI and other radiology examinations, will
analyse the images and send a report with their interpretation to the patient’s personal
physician. The patient receives MRI results from the referring physician who ordered the test.
The image is available almost immediately, but the time from when the image is made
available to when a report is issued will vary depending on the complexity of the case.
Types of MRI:
New uses and indications for MRI have contributed to the development of additional
magnetic resonance technology. 

Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is a new procedure used to evaluate blood flow
through arteries in a noninvasive (the skin is not pierced) manner. MRA can also be used to
detect intracranial (within the brain) aneurysms and vascular malformations (abnormalities of
blood vessels within the brain, spinal cord, or other parts of the body).

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is another noninvasive procedure used to assess

chemical abnormalities in body tissues, such as the brain. MRS may be used to assess
disorders such as HIV infection of the brain , stroke , head injury , coma, Alzheimer's disease,
tumours, and multiple sclerosis .

Functional magnetic resonance imaging of the brain (fMRI) is used to determine the
specific location of the brain where a certain function, such as speech or memory, occurs. The
general areas of the brain in which such functions occur are known, but the exact location
may vary from person to person. During functional resonance imaging of the brain, you will
be asked to perform a specific task, such as recite the Pledge of Allegiance, while the scan is
being done. By pinpointing the exact location of the functional center in the brain, doctors
can plan surgery or other treatments for a particular disorder of the brain.
  

(An fMRI image with yellow areas showing increased activity compared with a control
condition.)

Magnetic Resonance Venography (MRV) ; A diagnostic procedure that uses a combination

of a large magnet, radiofrequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and
structures within the body. An MRV uses magnetic resonance technology and intravenous
(IV) contrast dye to visualize the veins. Contrast dye causes the blood vessels to appear
opaque on the X-ray image, allowing the physician to visualize the blood vessels being
evaluated. MRV is useful in some cases because it can help detect causes of leg pain other
than vein problems.

Limitations of MRI:
An MRI is a very expensive and time consuming investigation compared to other methods
such as x-ray and CT. Some parts of the body, like bone, are better examined using simpler
techniques such as an x-Ray.

An MRI may not always be able to tell the difference between some disease processes. It is
also not a very good investigation for emergencies or accidents because of the long time it
takes and the fact that all equipment has to be removed from the room while the machine is
running.

Some Precautions:
The presence of a strong magnetic field means the metal objects of any kind are not permitted
within the scanning room during an MRI Scan. All jewellery and clothing containing metal,
particularly objects containing iron, need to be removed.

Internal metal objects such as metal clips, medication pumps, or any internal metal items such
as shrapnel or metal particles also present a considerable risk and must be made known to the
doctor. Other equipment that may cause a risk include cardiac pacemakers or defibrillators, a
catheter with metal components, aneurysm clips, and cochlear implants

If a patient suspects they may be pregnant, the doctor must be informed, as little is known
about the effect of MRI scans on an unborn baby.