contemporary research in neurological disorders

• models

  • used to represent concepts
  • used to demonstrate something where the real thing cannot be used due to its size or ethical reasoning
• in-vitro methods

  • enhances our understanding of neurological disorders
  • tests are conducted in a test tube to controlled environment, rather than on a living organism
• animal models

  • used when the testing moves from test tubes into real animals
  • often used when researches aren't allowed to conduct tests and experiments on humans
• neuroimaging

  • used to detect structural damage and assess functional changes in the brain due to disease or injury
• PET scans

  • used to show which parts of brain are functioning properly
• CT scans

  X-rays of brain that produce images of brain
• MRI scans

  • uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce a detailed image of the brain structure
• fMRI scans

  • provide active images of the brains metabolic functioning such as blood flow