Page 7 - TI Journal 18-1

Technology and Innovation, Vol. 18, pp. 1-4, 2016 ISSN 1949-8241 • E-ISSN 1949-825X
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21300/18.1.2016.1
Copyright © 2016 National Academy of Inventors. www.technologyandinnovation.org

EVOLUTION OF NEUROIMAGING TECHNOLOGY
IN THE MODERN ERA

Robert H. Paul

Missouri Institute of Mental Health and Department of Psychology,
University of Missouri – Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA

Clinical applications in brain science have progressed at a glacial pace when compared to other
medical disciplines. Treatments for most neurodegenerative brain diseases are limited, and cure
strategies remain underdeveloped. Pressure to improve clinical outcomes in the neurological
sciences is exacerbated by an aging population at risk for degenerative brain diseases. Fortunately,
technical advances in the field of neuroimaging offer new promise, with enhanced characteri-
zation of microstructural anatomy, network connectivity, and functional biomarkers of health
and disease. Articles highlighted in this issue describe cutting-edge applications targeting these
outcomes using diffusion tensor imaging, diffusion-based tractography, and positron emission
tomography. Finally, the glymphatic system is reviewed as a target for future neuroimaging
investigation in clinical populations such as those with Alzheimer’s disease. Integration of these
methods with new advances in computational science will inform mechanisms of healthy and
dysfunctional brain mechanisms and ideally lead to new targeted therapeutic interventions.
Key words: Neuroimaging; Alzheimer’s disease; Aging

The human brain remains one of the most puz- topathological bench work to in vivo examinations of
zling mysteries in the known universe. Encased in complex human behavior. The requisite technology
bone and vulnerable to slight homeostatic disruption, in brain science would not be available for nearly a
the brain is not easily examined by observational century after the clinical description of Mr. Gage.
methods or invasive experimental procedures. Early By contrast, progress in the prevention, diagnosis,
perspectives of basic structure-function relationships and treatment of diseases peripheral to the central
were informed by clinical evaluation of individuals nervous system (CNS) progressed steadily over this
who had survived traumatic brain injury, such as Mr. time period, with more rapid advances after the mid-
Phineas Gage (3). However, the resulting models of 1900s. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases
brain organization and physiology were incomplete previously known as fatal became manageable for
due to heterogeneity in lesion location and sever- many individuals with medications, surgery, and/or
ity across individuals and limited capacity to mea- changes in lifestyle factors related to disease onset
sure the impact of focal lesions on larger networks and progression (e.g., smoking, obesity). Similar
described in histopathological studies. New technical breakthroughs in the prevention and treatment of
insights were needed to bridge the science from his- other disease areas (e.g., diabetes) eclipsed the pace
_____________________
Accepted December 10, 2015.
Address correspondence to Robert H. Paul, PhD, Missouri Institute of Mental Health, 4366 World Parkway Circle, St. Louis, Missouri 63134, USA.
Tel: 1-314-516-8403; E-mail: Robert.Paul@mimh.edu

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