New use of brain scans could predict extent of brain injuries
Posted on Thursday, April 8th, 2010 at 11:02 am
Neurologists at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have adapted Functional Connectivity, a technique originally developed for studying the organization of the brain, to help them in predicting how injuries in one part of the brain can lead to problems in other areas.
According to a Washington University article, Functional Connectivity allows doctors to see the health of neurological networks that allow different parts of the brain to communicate. The ability to use older techniques in novel ways is allowing clinicians to predict the effects of injury, which in turn aids in choosing how to treat the injury.
Functional Connectivity utilizes MRI scans to monitor blood flow to various areas of the brain, which is indicative of brain activity. Scientists have found that damage to communicative networks between the hemispheres of the brain led to additional problems for patients and that this technique could lead to new treatments.
If you or someone you love has suffered the experience of head trauma or brain injury, contact the New Jersey brain injury attorneys of Levinson Axelrod at 800-346-5529 to see what options are available to you.

