Brain Mapping Research Progress

Brain mapping is a set of neuroscience techniques predicated on the mapping of (biological) quantities or properties onto spatial representations of the (human or non-human) brain resulting in maps. All neuroimaging can be considered to be a part of brain mapping. Brain mapping techniques are constantly evolving, and rely on the development and refinement of image acquisition, representation, analysis, visualisation and interpretation techniques. Functional and structural neuroimaging are at the core of the mapping aspect of brain mapping. This book presents the latest research in the field. An algorithm dedicated at discriminating between electrodes that lead to a seizure onset as opposed to those electrodes that do not, are examined in this book by using interictal subdural EEG data. The most effective method for localising the effects of neural activation throughout the human brain is Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). This book provides a new level of specificity in the basis of advanced approaches of using fMRI to study brain function as deep as at the level of the neural processing. Programmed cell death or apoptosis is a relevant process in the physiology and pathology of the nervous system. DNA damage response in postmitotic neurons is discussed and the elucidation of these mechanisms, which promise to provide multiple points of therapeutic intervention in neurodegenerative diseases, are examined as well. This book explains the temporal features of brain injury in three different developmental models of oxygen deprivation, capable of inducing apoptotic cell death. The hallmarks of hypoxia-induced apoptosis that may vary according to brain maturity, are also looked at. In addition, the neuroprotective effect of transplants of Neural Stem Cells (NSCs) after experimental traumatic brain injury were investigated and are discussed in this book.