There are no scientific tests to diagnose migraines,
depression,
bipolar disorder and many other ailments of the brain. Doctors generally
determine such disorders based on self-reported symptoms and behavior.
Functional connectivity MRI (fcMRI):
New theory shows that a type of brain scan called functional
connectivity MRI (fcMRI) -- which shows how brain regions interact can
accurately detect fundamental differences in how brains are wired. This
technique potentially could be used to distinguish healthy people from people
with brain
diseases, and give insight into variations in cognitive ability and
individuality traits.
This is a step toward realizing the clinical promise
of functional connectivity MRI. Before we can improve diagnostic tests based on
fcMRI, we have to know what it is literally measuring our organised brain. This
leads to an entirely new field of clinical testing.
Procedure for fcMRI scans:
Analysis of a set of data collected from undergoing
myriad scans in an MRI machine. The researchers analyzed data from more than 10
hours of fcMRI scans on every 9 people, collected in 10 distinct one-hour
sessions for every person. In the time of scans, every person performed tasks
related to vision, memory, reading or motor skills, or simply rested.
Functional MRI scans produce a dynamic map of the
outer surface of the brain, showing change in hot spots of activity over different
durations. To form a functional connectivity map, the surface of the
brain is divided into 333 different regions and identified areas that became
active and inactive in simultaneously. Brain network maps are then
constructed for every person, showing patterns of connection between parts of
the brain.
The abundant of data available on every person
allows easy analysis of how much an individual's brain networks changes from
day to day and with various mental tasks. Brain networks caught by fcMRI are
really about the individual i.e., whether someone's watching a movie or
thinking about their breakfast or moving their hands makes only a small
difference. We can still identify that individual by their brain networks with
a glance.
Disadvantages:
The stability of the fcMRI scans makes them a good
diagnostic tool. Even though the technique's potential to identify brain
disorders and diseases was identified years ago fcMRI-based diagnostic trials
are yet to make their way into doctors' offices. Progress has been inhibited by
confusion over whether the scans reflect fundamental, stable features of the
brain, or if they change with all passing thoughts.
Moreover, the researchers found that this technique
was powerful enough to distinguish people who were extraordinarily the same. All of
the scanned brains belonged to young, healthy scientists and doctors. More data
is needed before we can know what normal variation in the population at large
is. But the individual differences are simple to pick up, even in a population that
is really very similar. It's provoking to think that these individual
differences could be related to personality, cognitive ability, or
psychiatric or neurological
disorder.
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