Brain "X-ray" Exposes Broken Connections After Injury, University of Pittsburgh Study

Just like an X-ray reveals fractured bones, a new imaging technique can now pinpoint broken connections in the brain resulting from injuries for the first time. Developed by Walter Schneider and a team from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, the technology, called high definition fibre tracking (HDFT), allows doctors to visualise breaks in bundles of fibres, called fibre tracts, that connect different parts of the brain and control functions like language and limb movement. "Until now, there was no objective way of identifying how the injury damaged the patient's brain tissue, predicting how the patient would fare or planning rehabilitation to maximise the recovery," says neurosurgeon David Okonkwo, a member of the team.