MRI Mary Spiers, Ph.D.
If you have a character with a neurological disorder in your story, odds are you’re considering a scene in which the results of a brain scan will be interpreted.
Writers who want to mention or show a brain scan may wonder what types of imaging are appropriate to include for their character’s disorder. If you simply Google “brain imaging methods” you’ll find a dizzying number of possible options.
The latest developments in brain imaging have resulted in a number of experimental high-tech options.
However, if your story is set in the present day, these powerful imaging methods, like PET scans, DTI and fMRIs are not typically used in day-to-day neurological practice. They may either be too expensive or not necessary to make a diagnosis. As of now, they're used more in research aimed at discovering how the brain works.
Some of the newer imaging methods show a lot of promise, and they’re cool visually, so if your story is set in the future then you may choose to show some of these newer methods.
Below, I've compiled a cheat sheet listing the most common imaging methods used today and the reason each would be used.
If you have a character with a neurological disorder in your story, odds are you’re considering a scene in which the results of a brain scan will be interpreted.
Writers who want to mention or show a brain scan may wonder what types of imaging are appropriate to include for their character’s disorder. If you simply Google “brain imaging methods” you’ll find a dizzying number of possible options.
The latest developments in brain imaging have resulted in a number of experimental high-tech options.
However, if your story is set in the present day, these powerful imaging methods, like PET scans, DTI and fMRIs are not typically used in day-to-day neurological practice. They may either be too expensive or not necessary to make a diagnosis. As of now, they're used more in research aimed at discovering how the brain works.
Some of the newer imaging methods show a lot of promise, and they’re cool visually, so if your story is set in the future then you may choose to show some of these newer methods.
Below, I've compiled a cheat sheet listing the most common imaging methods used today and the reason each would be used.
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