The Past Twenty Years Have Seen Advancements In Technology

The Past Twenty Years Have Seen Advancements In Technology That Were C

The past twenty years have seen advancements in technology that were critical to further understanding concepts in cognitive psychology. Two such developments are positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. These scans allow researchers to “see” the brain in action. Research how brain scans can diagnose injury and disease using the Internet and the Argosy University online library resources. Based on your research, answer the following questions: How do PET and MRI work? If you were showing a person words while having an MRI, what brain areas would probably be active? If a brain injury victim is unable to move the right arm, in which area of the brain would an MRI scan most likely reveal damage? What kind of scan do you think would be best in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease? How do the research tools (equipment and methodology) available today contribute to a greater understanding of “conscious processes and immediate experience” than was possible using trained introspection and structuralism? PETs and MRIs also can diagnose head injuries.

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Positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are advanced neuroimaging techniques that have revolutionized the diagnosis and understanding of brain injuries and diseases. PET scanning involves the use of radioactive tracers that emit positrons, which are detected by the scanner to produce images reflecting metabolic activity in the brain. This technique provides functional information, highlighting areas of increased or decreased activity, making it especially useful in diagnosing conditions like Alzheimer's disease, tumors, and areas affected by trauma (Lou et al., 2017). MRI, on the other hand, uses strong magnetic fields and radiofrequency waves to generate detailed images of brain structures. It offers high-resolution anatomical images that can reveal structural damage, edema, tumors, or lesions in the brain (Rey et al., 2018). Together, these tools offer a comprehensive view of brain health, enabling clinicians and researchers to identify abnormalities that might not be evident through physical examination alone.

When showing a person words during an MRI, certain brain areas are likely to be active, primarily the left hemisphere regions associated with language processing. The Broca’s area, responsible for speech production, and Wernicke’s area, involved in language comprehension, tend to activate during such tasks (Binder et al., 2009). Additionally, the left temporal and frontal lobes are involved in semantic processing and phonological analysis when engaged in reading or word recognition tasks. Functional MRI (fMRI), a variant of MRI that measures blood flow changes related to neural activity, helps identify these active regions in real-time, providing insights into how language functions are mapped in the brain (D'Esposito et al., 2015).

If a brain injury victim is unable to move the right arm, the MRI scan would most likely reveal damage in the left primary motor cortex, located in the precentral gyrus. The motor cortex is somatotopically organized, meaning that different parts of it control different body parts. Damage to the area controlling the right arm would impair motor function on the opposite side of the body, which is the left hemisphere of the brain (Kimberley et al., 2017). An MRI can visualize such localized damage effectively, aiding in accurate diagnosis and rehabilitation planning.

In diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease, PET scans utilizing specific tracers such as Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) are considered the most effective. This is because amyloid plaques, characteristic of Alzheimer’s, can be visualized directly using PET imaging (Wang et al., 2018). While MRI provides critical structural information, such as brain atrophy, PET is more suitable for detecting functional and molecular changes associated with early stages of Alzheimer’s before significant structural damage occurs, making it a superior tool for early diagnosis (Johnson et al., 2016). The availability of these advanced research tools enhances understanding of brain functions and pathologies far beyond what was achievable through traditional methods such as trained introspection and structuralism, which relied solely on subjective reports. Today’s imaging techniques enable objective, visual confirmation of neural activity and structural integrity, advancing both clinical practice and cognitive neuroscience research (Stern et al., 2019).

Addressing Traumatic Brain Injury in Military Personnel

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a disruption in normal brain function caused by an external force, often resulting from a blow, jolt, or penetration to the head. In Allison’s case, her mild TBI from an explosion likely involved a concussion, where she experienced a temporary disturbance in brain function due to rapid brain movement within the skull. Symptoms of mild TBI can include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, irritability, and sleep disturbances (Menon et al., 2015). While these symptoms might appear temporary, there is concern about their long-term effects, including increased vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Therefore, careful monitoring and comprehensive assessment are crucial to managing her recovery and preventing further injury.

The military’s approach to managing such injuries should involve thorough medical evaluations, cognitive assessments, and tailored rehabilitation programs. Given Allison’s mild TBI, it is important to determine the extent of impairment through neuropsychological testing, which helps gauge the impact on her cognitive functions. If she recovers fully and the injury does not significantly impair her tasks, she could be eligible for discharge with appropriate military and civilian support. However, if she experiences persistent symptoms, disability benefits should be considered, as mandated by Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) policies, to support her recovery and adaptation (Hoge et al., 2017).

Decisions regarding redeployment should be carefully considered based on her cognitive and physical capabilities. If she exhibits concentration and memory deficits or emotional difficulties, redeployment to less cognitively demanding roles or non-combat positions might be advisable, ensuring her safety and operational effectiveness (Vargas et al., 2019). The military should prioritize mental health support, ongoing medical monitoring, and access to specialized neurorehabilitation services to facilitate her recovery and reintegration. Ethical considerations also demand transparency about the potential long-term risks of repetitive head injuries, emphasizing the need for preventive measures and education for soldiers exposed to blast-related TBI (McCrory et al., 2017).

Supporting military personnel with TBI requires a multidisciplinary approach involving medical professionals, mental health experts, and the military command structure. Ensuring proper treatment, accommodations, and support systems can improve outcomes and help affected individuals reintegrate into civilian and military life successfully. Overall, the goal is to balance operational readiness with the health and well-being of service members, recognizing that even mild brain injuries can have profound, lasting effects if not properly managed (Bazarian et al., 2019).

References

• Binder, J. R., Desai, R., Graves, W. W., & Conant, L. L. (2009). Where is the semantic system? A critical review and meta-analysis of 120 functional neuroimaging studies. Neuropsychologia, 47(8-9), 2325-2335.
• Hoge, C. W., McGurk, D., Thomas, J. L., Cox, A. L., Engel, C. C., & Castro, C. A. (2017). Mild traumatic brain injury in U.S. Service Members engaged in combat. New England Journal of Medicine, 358(5), 453-463.
• Johnson, K. A., Schultz, A., Betensky, R. A., Hansson, O., Amoroso, J., Sperling, R., & Jack, C. R. (2016). Amyloid burden and neural function in people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Science Translational Medicine, 8(338), 338ra66.
• Kimberley, T. J., Lewis, S. F., & Dijkers, M. P. (2017). Motor recovery following brain injury: Cortical and subcortical contributions. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 31(7), 589-600.
• Lou, B., Luo, D., Zhang, M., & Liu, W. (2017). Advances in PET imaging for neurodegenerative diseases. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 9, 99.
• Menon, D. K., Schwab, K., Wright, D. W., & Maas, A. I. (2015). Global prevalence of traumatic brain injury. Neurological Sciences, 36(5), 715-720.
• Rey, M. E., Pariente, J., & Dubois, B. (2018). MRI in neurodegenerative diseases. Current Opinion in Neurology, 31(4), 454-461.
• Stern, Y., et al. (2019). The promise of functional neuroimaging for understanding brain aging and dementia. Science Advances, 5(9), eaaw3328.
• Military Medicine, 184(11-12), e1835-e1842.
• Wang, Q., et al. (2018). PET imaging of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s disease. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 10, 307.