Question

The news media sometimes report functional brain imaging findings accurately, but often report them in oversimplified ways, such as implying that researchers identified a single brain region for Capacity X (like religious beliefs, morality, or political affiliation). Locate a media report on functional brain imaging (ideally using fMRI or PET) and evaluate the quality of media coverage. In your answer, describe the imaging techniqueand the findings. Then, evaluate whether the reporter interpreted the findings correctly or did he or she oversimplify things? For example, did the reporter avoid implying that investigators located a single brain "spot" or "region" underlying a complex psychological capacity?

Answer 1

Answer: The objective of this analysis is to review a spectrum of functional brain imaging technologies to identify whether there are any imaging modalities that are more effective than others for various brain pathology conditions. This evidence-based analysis reviews magnetoencephalography (MEG), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), positron emission tomography (PET), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for the diagnosis or surgical management of the following conditions: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), brain tumors, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), and Parkinson’s disease (PD).

The reporter interpreted the findings correctly. In Ontario, there will be an estimated 950 new cases and 580 deaths due to brain cancer in 2006. Treatments for brain tumors include surgery and radiation therapy. However, one of the limitations of radiation therapy is that it damages tissue though necrosis and scarring. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may not distinguish between radiation effects and resistant tissue, creating a potential role for functional brain imaging.

Explanation: