Brain Mapping The brain has been a focal point of scientists and the most gifted minds for many centuries. People have always wanted to know how thoughts, ideas, and memories are transmitted and understood throughout the human mind. Brain mapping is the process of scanning the brain, creating a “map” of the brain’s activity. Brain mapping has advanced directly proportional to the rate that the technology available to us has advanced.
With new gadgetry and equipment we are able to see closer into the mind than ever before. Brain Mapping allows scientists to diagnose if parts of the brain are malfunctioning or damaged. The different colors signify the level of activity, if any, coming from each section of the brain. This allows conditions such as ADD/ADHD, autism, learning disorders, anxiety, and depression. There are several different ways that the brain is “mapped”.
A CAT scan (or a Computerized Axial Tomography), is a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by a computer into a composite representation of it. An MRI (or a Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce CGI (computer generated images) that distinguish among types of soft tissue, allowing us to see structures within the brain.
The third type of “mapping” is an EEG (or Electroencephalogram). It is an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp. The last type of scan is a PET (or Positron Emission Tomography) scan which is a visual display of brain activity. These “mapping” techniques are all very helpful in evaluating brain function.
