neuroimagen

Neuroimagen, in Spanish-language contexts, is the field that encompasses techniques for visualizing the structure and function of the nervous system. It covers both structural imaging that reveals anatomy and functional or metabolic imaging that reflects brain activity and physiology. In English-language literature, the term neuroimaging is more commonly used, but the same modalities are understood across the field.

Structural imaging modalities include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). MRI provides high-resolution images of soft tissue and supports specialized sequences such as diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), which map white matter tracts. CT offers rapid assessment and is widely used in acute settings, particularly for head trauma and stroke, though it involves ionizing radiation.

Functional and metabolic imaging comprise functional MRI (fMRI), which detects blood-oxygen-level-dependent signals to infer neuronal activity, and nuclear imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), which use radiotracers to measure metabolism, perfusion, or receptor binding. Electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) provide direct measurements of electrical activity and are often used alongside imaging in clinical and research contexts.

Applications include clinical diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring for conditions such as stroke, brain tumors, epilepsy, neurodegenerative diseases, and traumatic brain injury. In research, neuroimaging supports studies of brain function, connectivity, development, and disease mechanisms, as well as pre-surgical mapping and the evaluation of therapeutic interventions. Safety, feasibility, and interpretation depend on specialized training, as imaging results are integrated with clinical information.