MRI Spectroscopy

The feature story "MRI: A Window on the Brain, " by Paul Raeburn, (Technology Review, 108: 11 (December 2005/January 2006), pp. 70--75), is an interesting overview of two variants of fMRI of which I had not previously heard: diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and, yet more exciting, MRI Spectroscopy. As far as I can tell from the article, which is written at a very popular level, DTI simply provides finer-grained anatomical information than conventional MRI. MRI Spectroscopy, however, goes beyond fMRI in offering real-time identification of other chemicals than oxygen. This is very promising.

Although I find Technology Review valuable for bringing new developments to my attention, it seems to me a deficiency in that periodical that no references to primary sources are given.