- Electro- physiology
- Measuring how neurons communicate with each other
- Histology
- Tissue sections reveal the cellular structure of the brain
- MRI
- Anatomical imaging using tissue contrast
- fMRI
- Watching the brain as while works
- MRS
- Measuring specific chemicals in the brain
- Surgical procedures
- Operations are always carried out under general anesthesia
- Implants
- Only biocompatible implants made of titanium or special plastics are used
- Alternatives
- Potential and limits of alternatives to animal experiments
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)
- Magnetic resonance spectroscopy: The spectrum shows peaks for the following metabolic products: aspartate (Asp), glutamate (Glu), and glutamine (Gln).
Besides water, a magnetic resonance tomograph can be used to measure metabolic products such as sugar, neurotransmitters or their metabolic products. The substances are identified on the basis of their individual patterns in the magnetic resonance frequency distribution. Much like a fingerprint, this pattern is unique for each molecule. In the measured spectrum, each peak can be assigned to a specific molecule (see figure). The area under the peak gives the concentration of the corresponding substance.
At present, this non-invasive method can be used to measure over 16 metabolites in the living brain. Thus, MRS makes it possible to study a whole range of metabolic processes. The lower detection limit is 1 millimole – that means that it is possible to measure a substance with a concentration only one hundred-thousandth that of water in the brain!
At present, this non-invasive method can be used to measure over 16 metabolites in the living brain. Thus, MRS makes it possible to study a whole range of metabolic processes. The lower detection limit is 1 millimole – that means that it is possible to measure a substance with a concentration only one hundred-thousandth that of water in the brain!