Toward a neuroscope: A real-time imaging system for evaluation of brain function

Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy techniques are now being used to detect changes in blood flow, volume and oxygenation level associated with brain function. The authors describe a prototype system, called a neuroscope, that provides a real-time acquisition, control and processing environment for functional brain studies. Preliminary experiments have shown that oxygenation sensitive changes in the rat can be captured in real-time. When fully developed, this system should prove very useful for mapping the spatial and temporal patterns of functional brain activity of humans.