Detecting Chemicals Through Bone

Posted by Unknown on Saturday November 23, 2013 @03:10AM from the full-of-poison dept.

MTorrice writes "To understand the brain and its chemical complexities, researchers would like to peer inside the skull and measure neurotransmitters levels as the brain at work. Unfortunately, research methods to measure levels of chemicals in the brain require drilling holes in the skull, and noninvasive imaging techniques, such as MRI, can't detect specific molecules. Now, as a first step toward a new imaging tool, chemists report they can detect molecules hidden behind 3- to 8-mm-thick bone."

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Drill, baby, drill by Travis+Mansbridge · 2013-11-23 03:18 · Score: 5, Funny

Trepanning always gets a bad rap.
Re:It's NUCLEAR magnetic resonance by venicebeach · 2013-11-23 04:00 · Score: 4, Interesting

The summary is overly dismissive of existing techniques.

In addition to MR spectroscopy, chemical activity in the brain can be measured with techniques like PET and SPECT.

All of these techniques have their advantages and disadvantages, and its certainly always great to have new options.