Brain Scanning Techniques (BST)

Vocabulary practice cards covering brain scanning techniques (CAT, MRI, fMRI, PET, EEG) and key neuroimaging studies (Luby, Maguire et al., Kim et al., Raine et al.).

CAT / CT Scan

A structural brain scanning technique using X-rays and computer processing to create 2D slices that can be combined into 3D images.

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging; a structural brain scanning technique that uses strong magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images of soft tissue without ionizing radiation.

fMRI

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging; a brain imaging technique that measures functional brain activity by tracking changes in blood flow and oxygen consumption.

PET Scan

Positron Emission Tomography; a functional imaging technique that measures brain function and metabolic activity using a small amount of a radioactive tracer, often related to glucose.

EEG

Electroencephalography; a technique using scalp electrodes to record the electrical activity of the brain, measuring frequency, amplitude, and timing.

Temporal Resolution

The ability to show precisely when brain activity happens in time; excellent in EEG and lower in techniques like fMRI.

Spatial Resolution

The ability to determine exact anatomical location of brain activity; poor in EEG, making it hard to identify where activity originates.

Luby

A study using structural MRI scans on 92 children (aged 7-10) showing that children with nurturing mothers in early childhood (aged 3-6) had hippocampi about 10% larger.

Maguire et al. (2000)

A structural MRI study comparing 16 male London taxi drivers to 50 male controls, demonstrating neuroplasticity and the posterior hippocampus's role in spatial memory.

Kim et al.

An fMRI study investigating multilingual language representation, finding that early bilinguals use the same anterior language area while late bilinguals use spatially separate areas.

Raine et al. (1997)

A PET scan study comparing 41 people charged with murder who pleaded NGRI against 41 controls, finding altered activity patterns in prefrontal, parietal, corpus callosum, amygdala, and hippocampus areas.

Posterior Hippocampus

A region of the hippocampus found in Maguire et al. (2000) to be larger in London taxi drivers, increasing in size with more years of driving experience.

Anterior Hippocampus

A region of the hippocampus found in Maguire et al. (2000) to be relatively smaller in London taxi drivers compared to controls.

Radioactive Tracer

A substance, usually related to glucose, injected in small amounts during PET scans to highlight areas of high energy uptake and metabolic activity.

Ionizing Radiation

High-energy radiation used in CAT/CT scans, noted as a key safety limitation compared to non-radiation techniques like MRI and EEG.

NGRI

Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity; the legal plea of the 41 individuals studied with PET scans in Raine et al. (1997).