Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Review

Non-invasive investigation of human brain function

Takashi Nagamine, M.D.

Department of System Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University

The idea that each brain function is undertaken by a small part of focal brain was established in 19th century. Since then, trials to reveal an individual function in each area have been continued. Although intraoperative electric stimulation/suppression has been considered to be the most secure way of exploration of brain function, this method has several limitations due to its invasive nature. On the other hand, recent advancement of explorative measure with high sensitivity has enabled measurement of physical phenomenon accompanied with change of brain function from outside of the skull. These methods can be applied to normal subjects using their capability of repetitive and multiple measurements and have provided new findings. Combination of several techniques knowing characteristics and limitation of each method will provide new insight into the brain.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (772K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 50: 628|633, 2010)
key words: difference method, inverse problem solution, spatial resolution, temporal resolution

(Received: 12-Jul-10)