The Future of Brain Imaging

Recently a new superconductor has been created that may allow scientists to create more powerful magnetic fields that are crucial to the resolution of a MRI scanner. The new superconducting material is called "doped rare earth iron oxyarsenides". This material may eventually enable brain scans that have a much higher resolution of detail than currently available and also reduce the size of the MRI scanner potentially leading to better portable devices. This article gives a good overview of the physics involved in MRI imaging.

A 9.4 Tesla MRI is the most powerful brain imaging technology currently available for research. Tesla refers to the strength of the magnet being used. A stronger magnet leads to a stronger magnetic field which can create a higher image resolution. The 9.4 Tesla MRI has a resolution that can image things in the brain that are as small as 50 microns. This resolution is enough to show small populations of neurons in the brain. So, for instance, scientists would be able to image a brain tumor to see if it was beginning to shrink after undergoing treatment. This MRI also allows scientists to visualize sodium ions which are important for tracking the metabolic processes of the brain.

In the past researchers have made strides toward MRIs than can image individual molecules such as proteins (outside of the brain). The ultimate goal of these scientists is to view the 3-dimensional structure of proteins. Eventually future technological progress in several areas may allow scientists to have an image resolution down to individual neurons or even individual molecules in the brain. So this sophisticated brain imaging will give science an even keener insight into the inner workings of the mind.

I previously mentioned about the >Neuroarm, which is a robotic arm that can fit and work inside an MRI to do brain surgery. Scientists can now couple high resolution brain imaging with precise robotic brain surgery. The Neuroarm is much more accurate than even the best neurosurgeons and can reduce any tremor in a neurosurgeon's hand. This technology will allow more precise placement of deep brain stimulation devices, gene therapy vectors and new neurons from stem cells. That's the more invasive route to changing the brain, but better MRIs may also be coupled with deep transcranial magnetic stimulation devices so as to allow brain imaging with noninvasive activation or deactivation of specific brain areas.

The general trend that science is moving towards a complete molecular control of our own brain matter. What will this mean for the future? This molecular control of our own brain chemistry may usher in a new era in the manipulation of human emotions and intelligence. Is humanity destined to increase our intelligence to mind boggling levels and attain new levels of happiness? Will humans opt for blissful normality in mental states, or will they test out a variety of hyper weird subjective mind states that are both strange and liberating. Only time will tell what new modes of awareness are possible with slight or drastic alterations of brain chemistry. The future may be anything but boring.