Dr Yvonne Couch - Brain Imaging, Inside The Black Box

Dr Yvonne Couch, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. Yvonne brings her usual fun to exploring different types of brain imaging and how they’re applied. Neuroimaging, or brain scanning, includes the use of various techniques to either directly or indirectly image the structure, function, or pharmacology of the brain. Neuroimaging falls into two broad categories: structural imaging and functional imaging. - Electroencephalography (EEG) is used to show brain activity under certain psychological states, such as alertness or drowsiness. - Positron emission tomography (PET) scans show brain processes by using the sugar glucose in the brain to illustrate where neurons are firing. - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans use echo waves to discriminate among grey matter, white matter, and cerebrospinal fluid. - Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans are a series of MRIs measuring brain function via a computer’s combination of multiple images taken less than a second apart. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-brain-imaging-inside-the-black-box/ -- Dr Yvonne Couch is an Alzheimer's Research UK Fellow at the University of Oxford. Yvonne studies the role of extracellular vesicles and their role in changing the function of the vasculature after stroke, aiming to discover why the prevalence of dementia after stroke is three times higher than the average. It is her passion for problem solving and love of science that drives her, in advancing our knowledge of disease. Yvonne has joined the team of staff bloggers at Dementia Researcher, and will be writing about her work and life as she takes a new road into independent research. _____________________________________________________ Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk